Going Solar

Maitland Is Going Solar

The City of Maitland is partnering with SolSmart to achieve the SolSmart Silver Designation. SolSmart is a new national technical assistance and designation program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, designed to recognize communities that have taken key steps to address local barriers to solar energy and foster the growth of mature local solar markets. The SolSmart program seeks to address "solar soft costs," or business process or administrative costs that can increase the time and money it takes to install a solar energy system.

If you are considering a solar energy project (residential or commercial), please read more about the resources and services available below:

Consumer Protections

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) is new to many of our city’s residents. Please see the following resources, which can help you make an informed solar PV purchasing decision:

Florida Solar Laws

Florida law forbids any entity- including homeowner associations- from prohibiting the installation of solar or other renewable energy devices on Florida buildings. An association may require the approval of system installation and may establish restrictions for installations. However, any such restrictions must be reasonable, not arbitrary, and applied in a uniform manner for all association members. Also, any restrictions must not have the effect of impairing the performance or increasing the cost of a solar system.

In particular, a homeowner association may not prevent the installation of solar collectors on the roof of a home. The association may determine where on the roof the collectors may be installed, so long as the collectors face within 45 degrees of due south. Finally, any requirement(s) that a system be screened from view by trees, fences, ground mounting racks, or a remote roof location that is hidden from the street, will generally violate the statute: Title XI 163.04

Helpful links: (links are for online sites not Maintained by the City of Maitland)

Incentives for Solar

Neighborhood Solar Co-Op

A solar co-op is a group of homeowners that bundle their buying power to secure a volume discount on rooftop solar PV systems. They use free-market principles to solicit competitive bids from area solar installers in order to secure the best price and ensure a quality product.

Net Metering

In Florida, net metering rules were adopted in 2008. Net metering allows utility customers who connect approved, renewable generation systems - such as solar photovoltaic systems - to the electric grid to sell electricity back to the utility company up to 2 megawatts.

When customers generate electricity from their solar array for their home or business it may reduce the amount of energy they need to purchase from the utility and may lower their monthly electricity bills. If their system produces more energy than they need, the excess power is sold back to the grid. That amount of energy is deducted from their monthly bill or credited toward a future bill in the same calendar year.

To be eligible, a home or business owner needs to apply with the utility company and have their electric meter replaced with one that measures excess power supplied to the grid. (Title XXVII 366.91.)

Permitting Solar Projects

Still have questions? Call 407-539-6212.

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)?

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is a financing mechanism that operates through local providers in order to enable low-cost, long-term funding for energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation projects (and in the State of Florida, also wind hardening). PACE financing is repaid as an assessment on the property’s regular tax bill, and is processed the same way as other local public benefit assessments (sidewalks, sewers) have been for decades. PACE can be used for commercial and residential properties.