Chris Chase
Licensed Florida insurance broker · FL License #G193830 · NPN 21407586
Last reviewed October 2026
The short version
- Insurance companies handle solar differently. Some cover panels, some exclude them unless you add coverage, and some have conditions.
- Florida law says an HOA can’t prohibit solar panels, though it can have a say in where they go.
- Under Florida’s net metering rule, systems of 10 kW or less don’t require liability insurance. Larger ones can.
Solar is common in Florida now, and insurance companies haven’t settled on one way to handle it. Before you sign with an installer, it’s worth a call.
This covers three things: your home insurance, your HOA, and what the utility can ask of you.
In this article
Are the panels covered?
It depends on the policy. I see four approaches:
- Covered as part of the house, as long as certain conditions are met.
- Excluded from the base policy, with an optional endorsement to add them.
- Allowed but not covered. The company will insure the home and won’t pay for damage to the panels.
- Not accepted in some configurations, which means that company won’t write the home at all.
Because the answers are that far apart, the question to ask isn’t “does home insurance cover solar.” It’s “does my policy cover my panels, and will my company still renew me after I install them?”
What insurance companies ask about
- The permit. A closed permit for the installation is a common requirement.
- When the system was installed. Some companies only accept systems installed in recent years.
- System size. Many companies have a maximum size in kilowatts. A typical cut-off for a house is around 10 kW, though some go much higher.
- The roof underneath. Some companies want the roof to be fairly new, around 10 years or less, before they’ll accept panels on it.
- The roof material. Some won’t accept panels mounted on a tile roof.
- Whether the system sells power back to the utility. A few companies have rules about net-metered systems.
Your roof comes first
Panels and roofs are tied together in an insurer’s eyes. An older roof already gets attention on its own. See Florida Home Insurance and Roof Age and How Your Roof Type Affects Insurance. Adding panels to a roof that’s close to an age limit can leave you with a home that’s harder to place.
If your roof is getting older and you’re planning solar, talk to me about the roof first.
What Florida law says about your HOA
Florida Statute 163.04 protects your right to install solar. A deed restriction, homeowners association, or condominium association can’t prohibit solar collectors from being installed on buildings. The association can decide the specific location on the roof where they go, within an orientation to the south or within 45 degrees east or west of due south, as long as that doesn’t impair how well the system works.
So your HOA can’t say no. It may have a say in where. Get its approval in writing before installation.
Net metering and what the utility can require
Net metering is the arrangement where the power your system produces offsets what you use, with credit for the extra you send back. Florida’s rule for customer-owned renewable generation sorts systems into tiers by size, and the liability insurance requirement depends on the tier:
| Tier | System size | Liability insurance under the rule |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 10 kW or less | Not required. The utility may recommend it. |
| Tier 2 | More than 10 kW, up to 100 kW | The utility may require general liability coverage of no more than $1 million. |
| Tier 3 | More than 100 kW, up to 2 MW | The utility may require no more than $2 million. |
A system of 10 kW or less is Tier 1. If yours is larger, ask the utility what proof of insurance it wants, and tell me, because your homeowners liability limit may need to be reviewed.
Before you install
- Call me first. I’ll check how your current policy handles solar and whether it changes your options at renewal.
- Get the system size in writing from the installer.
- Confirm the installer pulls the permit and closes it.
- Check the roof’s age and material against what your insurance company accepts.
- Get your HOA’s approval in writing, including the location.
- Ask the utility what tier your system is and whether it requires proof of liability insurance.
After you install
- Send me the closed permit and the system’s specifications.
- Tell me what the system cost so the coverage on your home can be reviewed. See How Much Should Your Home Be Insured For?
- Keep the contract, the invoice, and photos.
- If your policy excludes the panels, ask me about the endorsement to add them.
Storms
Panels on a roof are exposed to wind. If your policy covers them, a hurricane claim on the panels falls under your hurricane deductible, the same as the rest of the house. See Why Is My Hurricane Deductible So High? If your policy doesn’t cover them, wind damage to the panels is yours to pay. That’s the single most important thing to find out before you buy.
What I do
I’m not solar installers and I don’t give advice on which system to buy. I check how the insurance companies available to me treat your setup, tell you which ones will cover the panels, and help you avoid installing a system that leaves your home hard to insure.
Common questions
Will solar panels raise my home insurance?
They can change it. Some companies cover the panels as part of the house, some charge for an endorsement, and some don’t cover the panels at all.
Can my HOA stop me from installing solar?
No. Florida Statute 163.04 says an association can’t prohibit solar collectors. It can determine the location on the roof within limits.
Do I need extra liability insurance for net metering?
Under Florida’s rule, not for a system of 10 kW or less. Larger systems can be required to carry general liability coverage.
Every insurance company has its own rules and prices, and they change. I’ll tell you what applies to the options I find for you.
Official sources
- Florida Statute 163.04: solar collectors
- Florida Administrative Code 25-6.065: customer-owned renewable generation
- Florida Statute 627.7011: homeowners policies, roofs, and replacement cost
Keep reading
- Shingle, Tile, Metal, or Flat: How Your Roof Type Affects Insurance
- Florida Home Insurance and Roof Age
- How Much Should Your Home Be Insured For?
- Florida homeowners insurance
Related coverage: homeowners insurance and flood insurance.
Want me to look at your options?
Send me a quote request or give me a call. I’ll shop it and explain what I find.