Colorado signed HB26-1007 into law on May 7, 2026, making it the fourth US state to explicitly legalize plug-in solar — and the most permissive. The 1,920-watt limit is the highest of any state law passed so far. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.
Here's what it actually does, in plain terms.
What the Law Is (and Isn't)
Official title: "Improve Customer Use of Distributed Energy Resources" Bill number: HB26-1007 Signed: May 7, 2026 Effective: January 1, 2027 Sponsors: Rep. Lesley Smith (D), Rep. Rebekah Stewart (D)
This law legalizes "portable-scale solar generation devices" — plug-in solar systems that connect directly to a standard wall outlet. It does not address rooftop solar, solar leases, or community solar. Those are covered by separate statutes.
Colorado becomes the fourth state to pass a dedicated plug-in solar law, after Utah (March 2025, 1,200W), Maine (April 2026, 1,200W), and Virginia (April 2026).
What the Law Allows
Wattage limit: 1,920W AC output — 60% higher than any other state law.
At 1,920W you can realistically run: a full-size refrigerator, a window AC unit, laptop, lights, and charge devices simultaneously during peak sun hours. It's a meaningful offset, not a token gesture.
Who can install: All retail electricity customers in Colorado — renters, condo owners, and homeowners. The law explicitly does not limit access to property owners.
Sub-391W exemption: Systems with output of 391W or under are exempt from solar PV installation requirements and building safety code provisions that would otherwise require electrical wiring alterations. In practice, this means a small single-panel system can be plugged in without any certification or code compliance hurdles.
No utility pre-approval: Utilities cannot require approval before you install or use a plug-in solar system. They may require notification (size in kilowatts), but that is the extent of their authority over these devices.
Meter collar adapters: The law also requires utilities to allow customers to use meter collar adapters — devices that simplify solar-to-meter connection and can save $2,000–$5,000 on installation costs compared to full electrical panel upgrades. This applies to rooftop solar customers as well.
What HOAs and Landlords Can No Longer Do
The law explicitly voids any HOA covenant, lease clause, or regulation that restricts plug-in solar installation. A landlord cannot add "no solar panels" to your lease and have it enforced. An HOA cannot deny a request on aesthetic grounds.
There are two limits on this protection worth knowing:
- The system must be "properly attached and secured." A system dangling from a railing with no fastening could still be challenged on safety grounds.
- Landlords can set rules to prevent fire hazards and electrical overload — meaning they can require, for example, that the system connect to a dedicated circuit rather than an already-loaded outlet. They cannot use safety rules as a pretext to prohibit the system entirely.
What the Law Does Not Cover
Certification gap: Systems above 391W must be "labeled and listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory" (NRTL). The law does not name a specific standard, but in practice, UL 3700 — a new standard published in January 2026 specifically for plug-in solar systems — is the applicable certification. As of mid-2026, no products have achieved UL 3700 certification yet. Manufacturers are working toward it; certified products are expected to reach market by late 2026.
Until then, the Colorado Solar and Storage Association recommends either purchasing systems under 392W (which are exempt) or waiting for UL-listed products before the January 2027 effective date.
One system per address: The law limits installations to one plug-in solar system per meter. You cannot daisy-chain multiple units to push past the 1,920W limit.
No grid export guarantee: While utilities cannot block installation, the law does not require them to credit you for electricity you export to the grid. Plug-in systems are designed for self-consumption. Any export compensation would fall under existing net metering rules (Xcel Energy currently offers 1:1 net metering for rooftop solar, but plug-in systems are a different category).
Effective date: The provisions do not kick in until January 1, 2027. Installing a system today does not grant you the HOA preemption or utility non-interference protections yet.
Denver vs. Unincorporated Counties
The January 2027 effective date pre-empts local ordinances once it kicks in, including Denver city rules. Before that date, Denver's existing electrical permit requirements for solar still apply. Denver currently requires an electrical permit for all solar PV systems, processed through the city's e-permits system.
Outside Denver — in Jefferson County, Boulder County, Arapahoe County — local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) rules vary. Some unincorporated areas have adopted streamlined solar permitting through the SolarApp+ platform. After January 1, 2027, the state law overrides local permit requirements for qualifying plug-in systems.
The Honest Caveat
Colorado's law is the most permissive in the country — but the timing is imperfect. The effective date (January 1, 2027) lands after the federal 30% solar tax credit expired (December 31, 2025), and before UL 3700 certified products are widely available. The legal framework is solid. The market still needs to catch up.
If you're buying a plug-in solar system in Colorado right now, your choices are:
- A system under 392W (no certification required, no law needed — just plug it in)
- A UL 1741-listed microinverter system that complies with existing grid-interconnection standards, with the understanding that HOA preemption and utility non-interference won't be legally enforced until 2027
Resources
- HB26-1007 Full Text — Colorado Legislature
- Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA) — industry guidance on plug-in solar
- Plug-In Solar USA — Colorado tracker — updated bill status and implementation notes
- Denver Solar Permits — current Denver permitting requirements