Florida Solar Panel Incentives: Rebates, Tax Credits, Financing and More

A huge amount of sun and a few incentives make solar panel purchasing in Florida relatively easy. The state encourages its residents to install solar panels, though it doesn’t rank in CNET’s list of seven best states for solar incentives.

Florida legislates both sales tax and property tax exemptions for solar panels, continues to mandate net metering policies for excess solar generation and is one of only three states that offer property-assessed clean energy, or PACE, loans for solar. Florida’s state-based solar programs are also reinforced by a host of local and municipal-based incentives.

Read more: Best Solar Companies in Florida

Some critics have challenged solar policies in Florida. The state legislature passed a law in 2022 to end net metering but was rebuffed by the governor’s veto. PACE loans have come under fire for their lack of transparency. It’s more important than ever for Floridians to know what’s going on with solar panel incentives in their state.

Depending on where you live in Florida, you can still get good money back for installing solar panels or a solar water heater. Learn everything you need to know about solar incentives in Florida.

Note: All of the solar incentives listed below are for residential electric customers in Florida. There are different solar incentives for businesses, schools and other organizations. The incentives were current as of March 22, 2024.

Comparing Florida incentives for solar panels

Florida incentive	Description	Eligibility	Estimated value*
Solar property tax exemption	Value of solar installations is exempt from home assessments for property taxes	All Floridians	$218 per year
Solar sales tax exemption	Solar panels and eligible installation equipment are exempt from the state’s 6% sales tax	All Floridians	$1,440
PACE loans	Solar financing through property tax lien	All Floridians	Variable
SELF loans	Fixed-rate loans for solar panels	All Floridians	Variable
Net metering	Money back for excess solar energy generated	Most Floridians	Billing credit at retail rate; annual excess paid at avoided-cost rate
Boynton Beach Energy Edge rebate	Money back for solar panels with greater than 5kW capacity	Homeowners and businesses in Boynton Beach	$1,500
Dunedin Solar Energy Rebate Grant Program	$0.25 per watt for solar power	Dunedin residents and businesses	Up to $2,500
Solar appliance rebates	Money back for new solar water heaters and solar attic fans	Residents of participating cities	$150 to $900
Local financing for solar panels	Special loans from public utilities	Customers of participating utilities	Variable
Federal solar tax credit	30% back on solar panel installations	All Americans	$7,200

* Estimated value calculated by using a national average of $24,000 for installing solar panels and 0.91% for average Florida property tax.

Florida state solar tax credits, exemptions and loan programs

There aren’t currently any state tax credits for solar panels in Florida right now, but there are other tax incentives and sources of financing for solar installations that are available to everyone in Florida.

Florida state property tax exemption for solar panels

Solar panels and other renewable energy investments like wind turbines and geothermal heat pumps are exempt from property tax assessments in Florida. That means that even if the value of your home increases from the installation of solar panels, you won’t have to pay more in property taxes because of it.

The average property tax in Florida is 0.91%, according to the Tax Foundation. There are lots of different ways to calculate the value of adding solar panels to a house but using a $24,000 average cost of installation, that property tax exemption will save Floridians who install solar panels about $218 per year.

Florida sales tax exemption for solar panels

Florida is only one of 12 states that offer sales and property tax exemptions for solar panels. A 2023 Florida law stipulates that solar panels and solar energy equipment are exempt from state sales tax. 

Since Florida state sales tax is 6%, the exemption on solar panels and equipment will save homeowners $1,440 on an average $24,000 solar panel installation. 

Florida residential PACE loans

Florida is one of three states (along with California and Missouri) that allow property-assessed clean energy loans for solar panels. PACE loans allow homeowners to install solar panels with no upfront cost. Instead, a lien is placed on the property for the value of the solar panel installation, and homeowners pay off the money as a line item in their property tax bills. Terms for PACE loans are usually five to 20 years.

PACE loans don’t require a credit check and are an easy way to make renewable energy improvements, but PACE programs in Florida have come under fire due to a lack of state oversight. Since PACE loans require a lien on the property, there’s an additional risk of foreclosure for nonpayment. Some lenders — particularly Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — won’t issue mortgages for properties with PACE liens, meaning you’d need to pay off the loan completely to sell your house.

Florida SELF loans

The Solar and Energy Loan Fund encourages underserved communities to install solar panels by providing advantageous financing for solar installations. Borrowers get a fixed rate of 7.99% to 8.25% for loan amounts of $3,000 to $25,000 over terms of three to 10 years.

There is no minimum credit score or minimum income required to be eligible for a SELF loan, but you must be current on your property taxes and have paid your mortgage on time for at least the past 90 days. The program occasionally offers other rates, like a 10-year loan at 6.99% offered in early 2024.

Local solar panel rebates in Florida

There are only a few local rebates for solar panels in Florida right now. Most local rebates are for solar water heaters or attic fans. We’ll continue to update this space as new solar incentives in Florida arise.

Boynton Beach Energy Edge rebate program

Boynton Beach is an Atlantic Coast city in Florida offering money back for solar investment. The city currently gives $1,500 back for installation of qualifying solar panel systems. The solar installation must have at least 5kW capacity and 17.5% efficiency to be eligible for the rebate.

Dunedin solar energy rebate grant program

Is it a grant or a rebate? Does it matter? Located to the west of Tampa on the Gulf Coast, the city of Dunedin gives residents and businesses money for installing solar systems. The rebate/grant is based on solar panel system capacity. Residents can get $0.25 per watt of solar power generated up to a maximum of $2,500. Yearly funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and projects must be completed and permitted by Oct. 1 each year.

Local rebates for solar appliances in Florida

Florida might only have a few rebates for solar panels, but cities and local utilities offer rebates for solar water heaters, solar pool heaters and solar attic fans. Here are all the rebates for solar appliances that we were able to find in Florida.

Beaches Energy solar water heater rebate

Serving the beach cities east of Jacksonville, Beaches Energy gives its customers up to $1,250 back for energy-efficient upgrades, including $500 for the installation of a solar water heater.

Clay Electric solar water heater rebate

Clay Electric Cooperative provides its customers with rebates for energy efficiency upgrades like foam insulation and heat pumps. Its rebate for solar water heaters is based on the capacity, paying $0.01 per output BTU for a maximum rebate of $600.

Fort Pierce Utilities solar water heater rebate

Located an hour north of West Palm Beach, publicly owned Fort Pierce Utilities provides customers with rebates for Energy Star appliances, insulation and other efficiency upgrades. Qualifying solar water heaters can get a $450 rebate.

JEA $400 solar water heater rebate

Jacksonville-based JEA gives its residential customers a wide ra