Electricity rate as of 2026-05-01. Sun hours: NREL PVWatts, New York City annual average fixed-tilt. Brooklyn: 4.6 hrs/day. July average exceeds 6 hrs; December below 2 hrs. NY Solar Map (CUNY) provides per-building LIDAR-based solar potential estimates.. Cost per watt: EnergySage June 2026, New York City. Range: $3.00-$3.50/W. NYC carries a $1,500-$3,000 premium over upstate quotes due to higher labor rates, complex roof access, scaffolding, and multi-family building coordination.. Payback estimate assumes zero federal residential credit (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025) and current utility net-metering tariffs.

Net metering in New York City

Con Edison Phase One Net Metering: full 1:1 retail rate credit for all exported kWh, locked 20 years from interconnection. Monthly Customer Benefit Contribution of approximately $0.94 per kW-DC installed. Alternative: VDER Value Stack tariff at $0.18-$0.25/kWh depending on peak-demand and grid-congestion value. Data as of June 2026; verify at coned.com.

Available programs

Solar incentives in New York City, NY for 2026

Incentives available in NY

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 NY
Program	Benefit	Eligibility	Status	Source
NYC Solar Energy System (SEGS) Property Tax Abatement Local/State Incentive	7.5% of net solar system cost per year for 4 years, totaling 30% of net cost. Annual cap $62,500; total cap $250,000. Active through January 1, 2035. Program runs through January 1, 2035 per current NYC law. Verify current terms at nyc.gov/finance before signing. The abatement offsets property tax owed; owners with low property tax bills should verify sufficient tax liability to absorb the full credit.	NYC property owners installing solar on 1-4 family homes, condos with own meter, and certain commercial properties. Not available for renters or co-op shareholders who do not own the roof.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
NYS Solar Energy System Equipment Credit (SESEC) Local/State Incentive	25% of net system cost as a New York State income tax credit, capped at $5,000. Unused credit carries forward up to 5 years. No sunset date under current law. Proposed state legislation (April 2026) would double the cap to $10,000 and make it refundable for low-income taxpayers; pending as of June 2026. Use current $5,000 cap for all estimates.	NY state residents installing solar on their primary residence. Applies to purchased and leased systems.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
NYSERDA Battery Storage Rebate (Con Edison Territory) Local/State Incentive	$250 per kWh for qualifying battery storage systems installed in the Con Edison service territory. Rate as of June 2026; verify current Con Edison territory rate at nyserda.ny.gov before purchase.	Con Edison residential customers installing battery storage alongside or after solar. System must be registered through NYSERDA.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
NY Real Property Tax Law Section 487 Exemption Local/State Incentive	15-year exemption on the increased assessed value attributable to solar installation. Section 487 requires local municipality opt-in. Verify current NYC participation status with the NYC Department of Finance before relying on this exemption.	All NY homeowners where the local municipality has opted in. NYC participation should be verified with the NYC Department of Finance.	Limited	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
NY-Sun Affordable Solar Residential Incentive (Low-Income) Local/State Incentive Funding is limited. Verify availability before signing.	$0.80 per watt upfront incentive for qualifying low-income households. Standard-income NY-Sun Megawatt Block is fully subscribed in the Con Edison region as of May 29, 2025. The $0.80/W incentive remains open only for income-qualified households. Verify current availability at nyserda.ny.gov/ny-sun.	Households at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). Standard-income MW Block is CLOSED as of May 29, 2025.	Limited	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Sunset Park Community Solar (Brooklyn Army Terminal) Local/State Incentive	Community solar subscriptions with Con Edison bill credits. No rooftop installation required. Available to eligible Con Edison customers in the Sunset Park service area. 725 kW cooperative array at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, developed by NYCEDC, UPROSE, and Working Power. Construction completed May 2026. Contact Working Power or NYCEDC for subscription enrollment status.	Qualifying Con Edison customers in the Sunset Park catchment area. Enrollment open as of May 2026; capacity limited.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)

Data last verified June 29, 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 New York City homeowners are moving now

After the January 2025 wildfires, battery storage became a priority

Two overlapping forces are accelerating NYC solar in 2026. First, 2024 zoning amendments cleared solar canopy restrictions that had previously blocked rooftop installations on roughly half of Queens and Brooklyn's housing stock, opening a new wave of eligible rooftops. Second, the Sunset Park Community Solar array at the Brooklyn Army Terminal -- a 725 kW cooperative project developed by NYCEDC, UPROSE, and Working Power -- completed construction in May 2026, becoming the city's first community-led cooperative solar array to provide direct bill credits to local Sunset Park households. Together these shifts are driving the fastest growth in residential solar inquiries the five boroughs have seen since Local Laws 92 and 94 created a solar mandate for new construction in 2019.

Source: 2024 NYC Zoning Amendment clearing solar canopy restrictions; Sunset Park Community Solar at Brooklyn Army Terminal completed May 2026 (2026).

Illustrative example

What does a typical New York City 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 2026-06-29. Your numbers depend on your roof, your utility, and your bill.

System inputs

System size: 8.5 kW
Gross cost ($3.1/W): $26,350
Federal residential credit: $0 (expired Dec 31, 2025)
NYS SESEC 25% state income tax credit, capped at $5,000: Applied
NYC SEGS Property Tax Abatement: 7.5% per year for 4 years (30% of net cost after SESEC): Applied
Estimated net cost: $14,945

Estimated outcomes

Annual savings range: $2,400 to $3,200
Estimated payback: 6 years

An 8.5 kW rooftop system at $3.10/W costs approximately $26,350 before incentives. No federal residential credit applies in 2026 (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). The NYS SESEC 25% state tax credit reduces the bill by $5,000. The NYC SEGS Property Tax Abatement then credits 30% of the resulting net cost ($21,350 x 30% = $6,405) against property taxes over 4 years. Estimated net cost after both: approximately $14,945. At Con Edison's 31-cent rate and 4.5 peak sun hours per day, an 8.5 kW system on a well-oriented Brooklyn or Queens roof generates approximately 11,000 to 12,000 kWh annually, producing estimated annual bill savings of $2,400 to $3,200 at current rates. Estimated payback: 5 to 7 years depending on roof orientation, shading, and utility rate trajectory. These are estimates; your advisor will calculate site-specific figures using your actual Con Edison bill and roof layout.

Run the savings calculator for your specific address

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Neighborhoods we serve

Solar in New York City: 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.

Tottenville (Staten Island)
Flatbush (Brooklyn)
Bensonhurst (Brooklyn)
Middle Village (Queens)
Sunnyside (Queens)

Equity program target areas

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

East New York (Brooklyn)
Sunset Park (Brooklyn)
Mott Haven (Bronx)
Jamaica (Queens)

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.

Park Slope (Brooklyn)
Carroll Gardens (Brooklyn)
Bedford-Stuyvesant (Brooklyn)
Astoria (Queens)

LOCAL INSTALL PHOTO -- NEW YORK CITY -- TO BE PROVIDED

Permitting and interconnection

How solar permitting works in New York City

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)

Permit office: NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) -- all five boroughs use the NYC DOB eFiling system
SolarAPP+ status: SolarAPP+: Not adopted by this AHJ
Permit fee: $250-$700 based on estimated project value. NYC DOB uses its own eFiling system; the NYS Unified Solar Permit and SolarAPP+ are not accepted. Historic properties in LPC-designated districts require Landmarks Preservation Commission review.
Typical contract-to-energization: 12 to 20 weeks total: DOB application review 5-10 business days for standard systems; add 2-8 weeks for LPC historic review; Con Edison interconnection 30-60 days and typically the critical path. Landmarks properties (Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Greenwich Village) should plan for 16-20 weeks.

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

NYC DOB does not adopt SolarAPP+ or the NYS Unified Solar Permit. Local Law 92 and 94 (2019) require solar PV or green roof on new buildings and major roof replacements; minimum 4 kW system required. Con Edison interconnection for systems under 25 kW typically runs 30-60 days and is usually the longest single step.

Your local New York City advisor

One advisor. No door-knockers. No shared leads.

Serving New York City and surrounding NY communities

Book Your Free In-Home Inspection

Flatbush, Brooklyn REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial with bill comparison and SEGS abatement detail]

System: 9.2 kW rooftop solar, Con Edison territory, NYC SEGS abatement applied

Middle Village, Queens REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial mentioning NYC permitting timeline and DOB eFiling process]

System: 7.8 kW rooftop solar, Con Edison territory

Tottenville, Staten Island REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial from Staten Island single-family homeowner]

System: 10.4 kW rooftop solar plus battery, Con Edison territory

For business owners and property managers

Commercial Solar in New York City: Section 48E and Local Law 97

NYC's commercial and multifamily building stock presents major solar opportunity. Local Law 97 imposes carbon intensity limits on buildings over 25,000 sq ft starting in 2024, and solar generation directly reduces a building's carbon intensity score. The federal Section 48E commercial investment tax credit (30% base for projects beginning construction by July 4, 2026) combined with the Con Edison VDER Value Stack tariff and C-PACE financing make commercial rooftop solar a compelling 2026 opportunity for NYC building owners, landlords, and property managers. Warehouses in Queens and the Bronx, commercial buildings in Midtown and the Financial District, and large residential properties citywide are all eligible for assessment.

See commercial solar options

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.

Schedule a Free Commercial Assessment

New York City solar questions

What New York City homeowners ask

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

What is the NYC SEGS solar property tax abatement?

The NYC Solar Energy System (SEGS) Property Tax Abatement credits 7.5% of your net solar system cost against your NYC property tax bill each year for 4 years, totaling 30% of net cost. On a net system cost of $21,350 (after the NYS state tax credit), that is approximately $6,405 spread across four tax bills. The abatement is active through January 1, 2035. It applies to 1-4 family homeowners, eligible condo owners, and certain commercial properties. Renters and co-op shareholders who do not own the roof do not qualify.

Is solar worth it in New York City given the limited roof space?

For the roughly 40% of NYC housing that is 1-4 family homes with viable rooftop access -- concentrated in Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx -- solar can deliver strong returns. At Con Edison's 31-cent rate, which is among the highest in the country, even a modest 6-8 kW system produces meaningful annual savings. The NYC SEGS abatement and NYS SESEC credit significantly reduce net cost. The challenge is rooftop access: Manhattan high-rises and co-op buildings are generally not viable for individual residential solar.

Can I get solar on my apartment or co-op in NYC?

For most NYC apartment residents and co-op shareholders, community solar is the accessible path. Rooftop solar works best for owners of 1-4 family homes. Co-op and condo building solar requires full board approval and presents complex ownership and tax-benefit allocation challenges. The Sunset Park Community Solar program at the Brooklyn Army Terminal (completed May 2026) offers bill credits to eligible Con Edison customers in that service area without any rooftop installation.

Is there a federal solar tax credit in 2026?

No. The Section 25D residential solar credit expired December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, signed July 4, 2025). No federal residential credit is available for purchased or financed systems in 2026. NYC's primary incentives are the SEGS property tax abatement (30% of net cost over 4 years) and the NYS SESEC state income tax credit (25% capped at $5,000).

How long does solar permitting take in New York City?

NYC DOB is the authority having jurisdiction for all five boroughs. Budget 5-10 business days for DOB application review for standard residential systems. If your building is in a designated historic district (common in Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, and Greenwich Village), add 2-8 weeks for Landmarks Preservation Commission review. Con Edison interconnection for systems under 25 kW typically runs 30-60 days and is usually the critical path. Total: 12-16 weeks for standard installations, 16-20 weeks for Landmarks properties. NYC does not use SolarAPP+ or the NYS Unified Solar Permit.

More solar resources for New York:

New York solar guide All cities

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Solar Installers in New York City: Your 2026 Guide