Cost of Solar Panels in Florida 2026: $2.40/W Installed

Florida solar averages $2.40 per watt installed in 2026: $14,400 for a 6kW system gross, $10,080 net after the 30% federal ITC. 1:1 retail-rate net metering remains intact at FPL, Duke, TECO, and Gulf Power despite the 2022 phasedown proposal. The complication: Florida Building Code 2023 wind-load requirements add structural complexity (and a $0.10-$0.25/W premium in coastal high-velocity hurricane zones). Cost benchmarks from EnergySage Florida marketplace.

Florida Cost by System Size

System size	Gross	Net after ITC	FL annual production*
5 kW	$12,000	$8,400	7,500 kWh
6 kW	$14,400	$10,080	9,000 kWh
7 kW	$16,800	$11,760	10,500 kWh
8 kW	$19,200	$13,440	12,000 kWh
10 kW	$24,000	$16,800	15,000 kWh
12 kW	$28,800	$20,160	18,000 kWh

*Annual production based on PVWatts for Tampa (5.6 kWh/m²/day insolation), south-facing 25-degree tilt. South Florida (Miami) is similar; Pensacola (panhandle) is about 6% lower.

Florida 1:1 Net Metering Detail

Florida Statutes Section 366.91 and the corresponding Florida Public Service Commission Rule 25-6.065 govern residential PV interconnection and net metering. Under the current framework, each kWh exported to the grid credits at full retail rate to offset future imports within the same billing month. Net excess generation at month-end carries forward at retail rate up to 12 months, then settles at avoided-cost rate (typically $0.03 to $0.05/kWh) on the customer's anniversary date.

The 2022 phase-down proposal (HB 741 / SB 1024) would have stepped down export compensation 25% per year starting in 2023, eventually reaching avoided-cost-only by 2029. Governor DeSantis vetoed the bill in April 2022, citing concern about the existing solar industry's installed base. As of 2026, no replacement legislation has passed.

The 100%-of-historical-usage size cap is significant for two cohorts. First, new-construction homes have no historical usage, so installers typically size to FBC-projected consumption (often capped at the modeled load). Second, households on the cusp of EV adoption may want to size for projected future EV load; this requires the utility to accept "projected usage" documentation, which FPL does but Duke Energy Florida may not.

Hurricane Code and What It Costs You

Florida Building Code 2023 (FBC 2023, in force since 31 December 2023) requires PV racking and module attachment to be engineered for ASCE 7-22 wind loads. Most of Florida is in wind-speed zones requiring 130-150 mph design wind speed. The two High-Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ), Miami-Dade and Broward counties, require 180 mph design wind speed.

Practical impact of high wind-load requirements:

More attachment points per panel: Standard practice elsewhere is 2 to 3 attachment points per panel (typically lag-screwed into roof rafters through composite shingles with flashing). FBC HVHZ requires 4 to 6 per panel. This adds 30 to 60 roof penetrations on a typical 6kW system, with corresponding flashing complexity.

Heavier-gauge racking: IronRidge, Quick Mount, and Unirac all manufacture HVHZ-rated rail and clamp systems. Premium of about $0.05 to $0.10 per watt vs standard racking. Racking systems must carry a Florida Product Approval (FL number) issued by the Florida Building Commission.

Engineering letter: HVHZ jurisdictions require a Florida-licensed Professional Engineer's stamped letter on the structural attachment design. Adds $300 to $800 to engineering fees per install.

Total HVHZ premium: $0.10 to $0.25 per watt over a non-HVHZ Florida install, or $600 to $1,500 on a 6kW system. Outside HVHZ, FBC compliance adds maybe $0.05 to $0.10/W over non-Florida installs.

Florida Sales Tax and Property Tax Treatment

Florida Statutes Section 212.08(7)(hh) exempts solar energy systems and components from state sales tax. This saves the 6% state sales tax plus typically 1% local discretionary surtax on equipment, or roughly $700 to $1,200 on a typical $14,000 to $20,000 system. The exemption is administered automatically by reputable installers (no homeowner action required); verify the line item is excluded on your installer quote.

Florida Statutes Section 196.182 exempts the added home value from solar PV from property tax reassessment. Florida's average effective property tax rate is about 0.9%; the exclusion saves roughly $130 to $220/yr on a typical residential installation, or $3,000 to $5,000 over 25 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do solar panels cost in Florida in 2026?

Installed cost averages $2.40 per watt in Florida, putting a typical 6kW system at $14,400 gross and $10,080 net after the 30% federal ITC. Florida pricing is about 14% below the US national average due to lighter labour costs and a competitive installer market. EnergySage Florida marketplace data shows a $2.15 to $2.75 per watt range.

Does Florida have net metering?

Yes, 1:1 retail-rate net metering is still in effect at the major investor-owned utilities (Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric, Gulf Power). The 2022 legislative effort to phase down net metering (HB 741) was vetoed by Governor DeSantis in April 2022, preserving 1:1 retail-rate compensation for residential PV exports up to 100% of historical consumption. Excess generation beyond 100% of historical usage credits at avoided-cost rate ($0.03 to $0.05/kWh).

Is there a Florida state solar tax credit or rebate?

No state-level solar tax credit. Florida is one of the few large-population states without one. There is a sales-tax exemption on PV equipment (Florida Statutes Section 212.08(7)(hh)) and a property-tax exemption (Florida Statutes Section 196.182) that excludes solar from property tax reassessment. The 30% federal ITC is the primary financial driver.

What about hurricane requirements on solar panels?

Florida Building Code 2023 (FBC) requires PV racking systems to withstand wind loads per ASCE 7-22, which means design uplift loads of 30 to 70 pounds per square foot depending on building height, exposure category, and wind speed zone (most of FL is in Zone V 130-150 mph; coastal high-velocity hurricane zones (HVHZ Miami-Dade, Broward) reach 180 mph). Practical impact: more attachment points per panel (typically 4 per panel vs 2-3 elsewhere), heavier-gauge rails, more roof penetrations, +$0.10 to $0.25/W premium for HVHZ-compliant installations.

What are FPL solar policies in 2026?

Florida Power & Light (FPL) maintains 1:1 net metering for residential solar customers up to 10 kW AC inverter capacity. Above 10 kW, system size requires Schedule 1 vs Schedule 3 interconnection review. FPL waives the meter-installation fee for first-time PV interconnections and processes most applications within 30 days of submission. FPL had proposed phasing down net metering under PSC docket 20220130; the 2022 veto preserved the existing 1:1 framework.

Does Duke Energy Florida have different rules?

Generally similar to FPL: 1:1 net metering up to 100% of historical usage, retail-rate billing, 30-day interconnection processing. Duke uses a slightly different application form and inspection schedule but the economics are equivalent. TECO (Tampa Electric) follows the same general framework. Florida municipal utilities (Orlando Utilities Commission, Jacksonville Electric Authority, Lakeland Electric) each have their own net-metering tariffs, mostly retail-rate-equivalent.

What's the payback on Florida solar?

Eight to eleven years for a typical 6 to 8kW install in FPL or Duke territory. Drivers: relatively low retail electricity rate ($0.14 to $0.16/kWh), cheap install cost ($2.40/W), 1:1 net metering at retail rate, no state credit on top of the federal ITC. Faster payback in TECO and OUC territories (slightly higher rates); slower payback in NW Florida co-op territories where rates are lower.