Independent solar advice in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Solar Installation 2026

SolSmart Gold community with Go Solar Broward program. Best peak sun hours in our FL research: 5.9 hrs/day. FPL full retail net metering.

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The federal residential solar tax credit ended on December 31, 2025. We tell you the truth about what is left in 2026: which state programs still apply, and which financing paths can still capture federal value.

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Average local electricity rate (cents/kWh): 13.7
Peak sun hours per day (NREL): 5.9
Typical installed cost per watt: $2.36
Estimated payback (years, zero federal credit): 14

Electricity rate as of 2026-01-01. Sun hours: NREL PVWatts Fort Lauderdale fixed tilt annual average (turbinegenerator.org, latitude 26.1 N). Cost per watt: EnergySage May 2026, Broward County. Payback estimate assumes zero federal residential credit (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025) and current utility net-metering tariffs.

Net metering in Fort Lauderdale

FPL Net Metering: full retail rate credit per Florida PSC rules for investor-owned utilities. Monthly credits roll forward. Year-end true-up paid at avoided-cost rate (~$0.03-0.05/kWh). No step-down schedule in effect as of June 2026 (HB 741 vetoed 2022; no replacement legislation passed). Rates scheduled to increase modestly each year through 2029 under FPL's four-year rate settlement effective January 1, 2026.

Available programs

Solar incentives in Fort Lauderdale, FL for 2026

Incentives available in FL

Federal residential solar credit (Section 25D): expired. The Section 25D residential investment tax credit expired December 31, 2025. The residential credit rate is 0%. State and local incentives below may still significantly reduce your net system cost. Commercial systems still qualify for Section 48E (30%).

Active solar incentives in FL
Program	Benefit	Eligibility	Status	Source
Go Solar Broward Rooftop Challenge Local/State Incentive	U.S. DOE grant-funded program administered by Broward County. Standardized online application, standardized permit fee, single inspection protocol, and uniform FPL interconnection process. Reduces cost and wait time for residential solar permits in Broward County. Verify current program status at broward.org/Climate/Pages/Solar.aspx before applying.	Broward County residential solar applicants	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Fort Lauderdale SolSmart Gold Designation Local/State Incentive	City of Fort Lauderdale holds national SolSmart Gold status (DOE-funded program) in recognition of reducing solar permitting barriers. Broward County also holds SolSmart designee status. Designation recognizes systemic permitting improvements, not a direct homeowner rebate. Verify current program activities at solsmart.org.	Residents of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County benefit from the streamlined permitting infrastructure this designation represents	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Florida Property Tax Exemption (Permanent) Local/State Incentive	100% of added home value from solar exempt from Broward County property tax assessment through at least 2037 Florida Statute 193.624. Applies statewide.	All Broward County residential solar owners	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Florida Sales Tax Exemption (Permanent) Local/State Incentive	6% Florida sales and use tax waived on all certified solar equipment	All Florida solar purchasers	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Broward County PACE Financing Local/State Incentive	Property Assessed Clean Energy financing for solar, battery storage, and energy efficiency improvements; repaid through property tax bill Compare total PACE financing cost including charges before signing; assessment rides with the property.	Broward County property owners; state-authorized PACE providers	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
HB 683 Private Provider Review Local/State Incentive	5-business-day permit review path statewide via licensed private provider; automatic approval if deadline missed Effective July 1, 2025. Virtual inspections also authorized statewide.	All Florida residential solar permit applicants	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)

Data last verified June 1, 2026. Incentive programs change; verify current amounts and availability at dsireusa.org (opens in new tab) before committing to a project.

California property-tax exclusion sunsets December 31, 2026. Solar systems installed and permitted by December 31, 2026 lock in the exclusion for the life of the system under current California law (Revenue and Taxation Code Section 73). Systems installed in 2027 may not qualify if the Legislature does not extend the exemption. Verify current legislative status at ftb.ca.gov before signing a contract.

Why Fort Lauderdale homeowners are moving now

After the January 2025 wildfires, battery storage became a priority

Fort Lauderdale holds SolSmart Gold designation and administers the Go Solar Broward Rooftop Challenge, a DOE-grant-funded program that standardizes fees, inspections, and FPL interconnection for Broward County solar projects. The Las Olas corridor, Victoria Park, Coral Ridge, and Harbor Beach have meaningful existing solar penetration, creating installer familiarity and referral networks. Like Miami, South Florida Building Code High-Velocity Hurricane Zone requirements (175+ mph wind-load-rated mounting) are non-negotiable and add installation complexity.

Source: Fort Lauderdale SolSmart Gold designation (national DOE program); Go Solar Broward Rooftop Challenge (active) (2026).

Illustrative example

What does a typical Fort Lauderdale solar system actually cost and save?

Zero federal residential credit applied (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). Figures are estimates based on market data as of 2026-06-01. Your numbers depend on your roof, your utility, and your bill.

System inputs

System size: 15.71 kW
Gross cost ($2.36/W): $37,075
Federal residential credit: $0 (expired Dec 31, 2025)
Go Solar Broward standardized permitting (reduced soft costs): Applied
Florida 6% sales tax exemption on equipment: Applied
Florida 100% property tax exemption on added home value: Applied
Estimated net cost: $37,075

Estimated outcomes

Annual savings range: $2,000 to $2,900
Estimated payback: 14 years

Based on a 15.71 kW system at $2.36/W (EnergySage, May 2026; Broward County) and FPL's all-in rate of approximately 13.7 cents/kWh (effective January 1, 2026). Zero federal residential credit applied (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). Fort Lauderdale has the best peak sun hours of the five Florida metros analyzed at 5.9 hours per day, improving annual production. FPL rates are scheduled for incremental increases through 2029, improving solar savings each year. The Go Solar Broward program's standardized permitting reduces soft costs compared to jurisdictions without a comparable program. Florida's 6% sales tax exemption and 100% property tax exemption reduce effective ownership cost but are not reflected in gross cost. At $2.36/W, Fort Lauderdale carries the highest per-watt cost in our Florida research.

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Neighborhoods we serve

Solar in Fort Lauderdale: high-adoption areas, equity zones, and post-fire demand corridors

High-adoption neighborhoods

Established solar saturation; higher installers per block, active neighbor referrals, and permit history at LADBS.

Weston
Davie
Plantation
Coral Ridge
Victoria Park

Equity program target areas

Designated disadvantaged communities (DAC) eligible for SGIP equity resiliency, DAC-SASH, and other income-qualified programs. Income verification required.

Deerfield Beach
Pompano Beach
Lauderdale Lakes

Post-fire and growth corridors

Wildfire-affected and adjacent neighborhoods where battery storage demand surged following the January 2025 fires. Rebuilding homeowners and proximate neighbors with elevated grid-resilience priorities.

Pembroke Pines
Miramar
Coconut Creek

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Permitting and interconnection

How solar permitting works in Fort Lauderdale

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)

Permit office: Broward County Permitting, Licensing and Consumer Protection Division (City of Fort Lauderdale Development Services Department for Fort Lauderdale proper; LauderBuild digital portal)
SolarAPP+ status: SolarAPP+: Not adopted by this AHJ
Permit fee: No SolarAPP+ adopted in Florida. Fort Lauderdale uses LauderBuild digital permitting portal. Go Solar Broward Rooftop Challenge program provides standardized fee, single inspection protocol, and uniform utility interconnection, reducing soft costs. One rough estimate cited approximately $4,500 for permits on a standard residential system; verify current fee via LauderBuild fee calculator based on construction value. HB 683 (effective July 1, 2025) enables 5-business-day private-provider review path.
Typical contract-to-energization: 6 to 12 weeks (1-3 weeks for complete digital submissions on simple projects; 5-business-day private-provider path under HB 683; FPL interconnection 4-8 weeks; virtual inspections authorized)

We handle the permit and interconnection filings

LADBS permit application and plan set preparation
SolarAPP+ submission for qualifying systems
LADWP or SCE interconnection application
Inspection coordination and utility sign-off
Certificate of Completion delivery to homeowner

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Serving Fort Lauderdale and surrounding FL communities

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Weston, Broward County REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial with FPL bill comparison and Go Solar Broward permit experience]

System: 15 kW rooftop solar, FPL territory, Go Solar Broward permit

Victoria Park, Fort Lauderdale REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial with HVHZ wind-load mounting and LauderBuild permit details]

System: 10 kW rooftop solar, FPL territory, SolSmart Gold jurisdiction

For business owners and property managers

Commercial Solar in Fort Lauderdale

Broward County's commercial real estate, marina infrastructure, hospitality sector, and industrial corridors benefit from FPL commercial net metering, SolSmart Gold designation, and 5.9 peak sun hours. The federal Section 48E commercial Investment Tax Credit was available for projects where construction begins by July 4, 2026. Go Solar Broward has commercial resources available. Verify current FPL commercial interconnection requirements and applicable tariffs.

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Commercial solar projects must begin construction by July 4, 2026 to qualify for the 30 percent Section 48E federal tax credit. After that date, the system must be placed in service by December 31, 2027.

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Fort Lauderdale solar questions

What Fort Lauderdale homeowners ask

City-specific answers. Every number references your utility and your permit office.

What is the Go Solar Broward program and how does it help homeowners?

Go Solar Broward is a U.S. Department of Energy grant-funded solar adoption program administered by Broward County. It provides a standardized online application process, a uniform permit fee structure, a single inspection protocol, and a standardized FPL interconnection pathway for residential solar. This reduces the paperwork burden and typically reduces soft costs compared to jurisdictions without a comparable program. Fort Lauderdale also holds national SolSmart Gold designation, recognizing the city's commitment to reducing solar permitting barriers. Verify current program status at broward.org.

What wind-load requirements apply to solar in Fort Lauderdale?

Broward County is within Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), the same zone as Miami-Dade. Solar mounting systems must be rated for winds of 175 mph or higher and comply with the South Florida Building Code, which is more stringent than the statewide Florida Building Code baseline. Confirm that your installer uses FBC HVHZ-compliant racking with an approved Notice of Acceptance (NOA) before signing.

How does FPL net metering work in Fort Lauderdale?

FPL provides full retail-rate credit per kWh exported, per Florida PSC rules for investor-owned utilities. Credits roll forward monthly. At the year-end annual true-up, remaining accumulated credits are paid at the avoided-cost rate of approximately $0.03-0.05/kWh. FPL's four-year rate settlement runs through 2029 with planned incremental annual increases. Verify the current FPL tariff at fpl.com before finalizing any savings estimate.

Is there a federal solar tax credit in 2026?

No. The Section 25D residential credit expired December 31, 2025 under H.R. 1. Florida has no state income tax, so no state solar tax credit is available. The primary Fort Lauderdale incentives are FPL full retail net metering, the Go Solar Broward streamlined permitting program, and Florida's permanent sales tax and property tax exemptions.

Is Fort Lauderdale more expensive for solar than Miami?

Yes. At $2.36/W (EnergySage, May 2026), Fort Lauderdale has a higher per-watt install cost than Miami ($2.30/W). However, Fort Lauderdale's 5.9 peak sun hours per day (vs. 5.65-6.13 for Miami) provide slightly better annual production at a similar latitude. The Go Solar Broward streamlined permitting also reduces soft costs. Payback period at current FPL rates is approximately 11-14 years depending on system size, shading, and orientation.

More solar resources for Florida:

Florida solar guide All cities

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