Is Solar Worth It in Florida? (2026)

Florida calls itself the Sunshine State, and for rooftop solar the nickname is not just marketing. The state gets some of the strongest sun in the country, its utilities still credit excess solar power at the full retail rate, and it exempts solar equipment from sales and property taxes. But 2026 changed the math in one big way: the federal residential solar tax credit is gone. So is solar still worth it in Florida? For most homeowners, yes, but the payback takes longer than it used to. Here is the full picture, with every number sourced from 2026 data.

Is Solar Worth It in Florida? The Short Answer

Yes, for most Florida homeowners who own their home, have a suitable roof, and plan to stay put for a while. Net metering still pays you the full retail rate for surplus power, installation costs run lower than the national average, and typical systems cut electric bills by 60-90%, according to Florida installer data published in 2026. The honest payback period is now 8 to 12 years for a purchased system, per Lunex Power’s 2026 analysis, since the 30% federal credit expired. After payback, a 25-year system delivers 13-17 years of nearly free electricity.

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Florida in 2026?

The average installed cost in Florida is $2.12 per watt as of September 2026, according to EnergySage, which tracks real installer quotes. For Florida’s average system size of 14.47 kW, that works out to about $30,694 before incentives, with most quotes falling between $26,090 and $35,298. ConsumerAffairs reports $2.20 per watt, and a 2026 state-by-state breakdown puts Florida’s range at $2.20-$2.80 per watt, citing a competitive installer market and lower labor costs than the Northeast.

One warning on pricing: tariffs are pushing costs up. A Tampa-based finance expert told ConsumerAffairs that solar panel prices are 15-25% higher than the previous summer because so many components are imported, and installers expect elevated prices to continue. That makes getting three or more competing quotes more important than ever.

What Happened to the Federal Solar Tax Credit?

This is the biggest change for 2026 buyers. The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures after 31 December 2025 under P.L. 119-21. If your system was not installed and paid for in 2025 or earlier, you cannot claim the old 30% credit. Multiple 2026 sources, including ConsumerAffairs, Jackery, and Palmetto, confirm the residential credit is gone.

What still exists in Florida:

• Sales tax exemption: Solar energy equipment is exempt from Florida’s 6% sales tax under Florida Statutes section 212.08(7)(hh).
• Property tax exclusion: The value your solar system adds to your home is excluded from your property’s taxable assessed value under section 193.624, so your property taxes do not go up because you went solar.
• Local utility programs: Jacksonville’s JEA offers up to $4,000 for qualifying battery storage, and the City of Tallahassee offers low-interest loans up to $20,000 at 5% APR repaid on the utility bill, per Lunex Power’s 2026 roundup. Check with your own utility, since municipal and co-op programs vary widely.

One more note: third-party-owned systems (leases and PPAs) are a different tax story. Because a company, not you, owns the system, commercial credits can still apply, and some lease providers pass those savings through as lower monthly payments. If you lease, ask the provider exactly how that works in writing.

How Does Net Metering Work in Florida?

Net metering is the policy that makes Florida solar economics work. When your panels produce more than your home uses, the surplus flows to the grid and your utility credits your bill at the full retail rate, the same price you pay for electricity. Over a year, summer surpluses offset winter and nighttime usage.

As of 2026, Florida still offers 1:1 net metering for most residential customers, with the state’s largest utilities required to credit excess generation at full retail value. SolarReviews, Lunex Power, and a 2026 industry report from PES Solar all confirm the policy remains in effect.

But you should know the pressure is real. Utilities have repeatedly pushed to weaken net metering, and a 2026 Florida Senate proposal backed by FPL sought to restrict net metering expansion. As of the sources reviewed for this article, no rollback had taken effect, and 1:1 crediting stands. Still, this is the one policy to watch: before you sign a contract, ask your installer to confirm your utility’s current net metering terms in writing, because the rules that apply on your install date are what matter.

How Much Can Florida Homeowners Save?

Florida’s combination of strong sun, 1:1 net metering, and rising utility rates produces some of the best solar savings in the country:

• Annual savings of $1,400-$1,800 for a typical 9-10 kW system offsetting average Florida usage of about 1,100 kWh per month, per PES Solar’s 2026 figures.
• About $130 per month for a 7.2 kW system, adding up to over $50,000 in bill savings across 25 years, per SolarReviews’ 2026 data.
• 25-year net savings of $20,000-$40,000 for an average Florida home after payback, per Lunex Power’s 2026 analysis (some installer estimates run higher depending on system size and future rate increases).
• Monthly bill reductions of 60-90%, reported by Florida installer Ideal Home Solutions in 2026.

The payback math: Lunex Power puts the honest 2026 payback at 8-12 years depending on system size, utility, and financing. Jackery’s 2026 guide cites 6-10 years, and SolarReviews notes payback as low as nine years for well-sited systems. The spread exists because your utility rate, roof orientation, shading, and whether you pay cash or finance all move the number. After payback, with panels typically warranted for 25-30 years, you get well over a decade of nearly free power.

Why Is Florida So Good for Solar Production?

The resource side of the equation is where Florida shines, literally:

• 5.67 peak sun hours per day on average, among the highest in the continental US, per PES Solar’s 2026 data. (A “peak sun hour” is an hour of 1,000 watts per square meter, the standard measure of solar resource.)
• Roughly 230 or more sunny days per year, per Lunex Power.
• High electricity use, about 1,100 kWh per month for the average Florida home, driven by air conditioning. High usage means more of your expensive grid power gets replaced by solar.
• Electricity rates around 14-16 cents per kWh. A 2026 snapshot puts Florida’s average residential rate at 14.31 cents per kWh, while Palmetto reports a Florida average of 15.20 cents with FPL at 15.00 cents. Every rate increase makes an existing solar system more valuable.
• Scale: Florida ranks 2nd in the US for residential solar installations, per PES Solar’s 2026 report, which means deep installer competition and experienced local crews.

What Are the Downsides of Solar in Florida?

An honest guide has to cover the other side.

Hurricanes and wind codes. This is the big one. Miami-Dade and Broward counties sit in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), the strictest wind region in the US building code. Under the 2023 Florida Building Code (8th edition), residential structures there are designed for 3-second-gust wind speeds of 175 mph in Miami-Dade and 170 mph in Broward, per pv magazine USA’s October 2025 reporting. That means heavier mounting hardware, denser attachment spacing, and stricter permitting than in most states, and in the HVHZ, modules and racking need Miami-Dade product approvals. Expect hurricane-zone engineering to add cost versus a simple install in a calm climate, and never hire an installer who cannot show you the wind-load calculations for your specific address.

No more federal credit. The end of the 30% credit is the reason payback stretched from the old 6-9 year estimates to today’s 8-12 years. The investment still works, but the margin for a bad quote is thinner.

Roof condition matters more here. Tile roofs, common in Florida, cost more to mount on than shingle. And if your roof needs replacing within the next several years, do it before the panels go up, since removing and reinstalling an array for a re-roof costs thousands.

Insurance and HOA checks. Ask your homeowners insurer how rooftop solar affects your premium before you sign, and confirm your HOA’s architectural rules and approval process in writing.

Who Should Think Twice?

Solar is not for everyone. Think carefully if you rent, if your roof is heavily shaded or faces the wrong way with no good alternative, if you plan to move within a few years (you will not reach payback), or if your monthly electric bill is already very low. In those cases the numbers may not work, and an honest installer will tell you so.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is net metering still 1:1 in Florida in 2026? Yes. As of 2026 sources, Florida utilities still credit residential solar customers at the full retail rate for excess power sent to the grid. Utilities continue to push for changes, so confirm your utility’s current terms in writing before installing.

How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves in Florida? Most 2026 estimates put payback at 8-12 years for a purchased system now that the federal tax credit has ended, though well-sited systems with high usage can do better.

Can I still claim the 30% federal solar tax credit? No, not for a home you own. The residential credit ended for expenditures after 31 December 2025. State sales and property tax exemptions still apply.

Do solar panels survive hurricanes? Properly installed systems are engineered to Florida’s wind codes, including 175 mph design winds in Miami-Dade’s hurricane zone. The key word is “properly”: permits, engineered mounting, and approved hardware are what keep panels on the roof. Ask your installer for the wind-load documentation.

How much does a 6 kW system cost in Florida? At $2.12-$2.80 per watt, a 6 kW system runs roughly $12,700-$16,800 before incentives. Get multiple local quotes, since tariff-driven price swings are hitting different installers differently.

Is solar worth it in Florida in 2026? Is solar worth it in Florida? Yes if you own your roof, with 8-12 year payback. Solar is worth it in Florida thanks to 1:1 net metering and $2.12/W installed costs.

The Bottom Line

Solar is still worth it in Florida in 2026, just on a longer fuse than before. You get elite sun (5.67 peak sun hours a day), 1:1 net metering, installation costs below the national average, and state tax exemptions that survive the federal credit’s exit. The trade-offs are real: an 8-12 year payback instead of the old 6-9, strict hurricane wind codes that add engineering cost, and a net metering policy that utilities keep trying to change. If you own your home, have a sound roof, and will stay put for a decade, the lifetime savings of $20,000-$40,000-plus make it one of the better home investments available to Floridians. Get three quotes, confirm net metering terms in writing, and check your roof and insurance first.

Prices vary by system size, roof type, equipment, installer, and utility territory. Get quotes from at least three licensed Florida solar installers before deciding.

Last reviewed: 11 October 2026

By TheSolarCost Editorial Team