Solar Panel Installation in Baltimore, MD
Local sun, utility rules, permits and installers
Baltimore has about 1,180 kWh a year per kW of rooftop solar (our estimate). Your utility decides what exported power earns, so see the rules for BGE below, then get quotes.
Baltimore solar at a glance
Utility rules and programs for Baltimore
BGE serves homes in Baltimore.
| Utility | Type | Solar export rule |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Gas & Electric Co | investor-owned | BGE follows state net metering: each month your exports offset your use, you still pay the customer charge, and leftover credit is either paid out each April at the generation part of your rate averaged over 12 months or banked indefinitely (a choice you can switch only after waiting 12 months, per BGE). Your installer applies on BGE’s online portal; BGE says systems of 20 kW AC or less may take up to 20 days, and you wait for permission to operate before switching on. |
Program details are from each utility’s own pages (read October 2026). See the Maryland incentives table for statewide credits and a status for every program.
Permits and approvals in Baltimore
- Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, Permits and Inspections: permit information
- Permit applications go through the city’s online building permits portal. The city code requires solar building permit applications to include a line drawing of the electrical components.
- The utility must approve the connection before you switch on: BGE getting started with solar · your own utility’s interconnection page.
- Check any contractor on the Maryland Home Improvement Commission license lookup before you sign.
- Maryland law (Real Property section 2-119) bars HOA and covenant rules that unreasonably limit rooftop solar you own or exclusively use, meaning a rule that adds at least 5 percent to cost or cuts output by at least 10 percent (Maryland Real Property 2-119).
Fees and steps change; confirm with the office before you start. We have not verified timelines for Baltimore.
Costs and savings
We do not have verified installed prices for Baltimore alone. The Maryland figures above show what to expect; real quotes depend on your home, equipment and installer. Try the solar savings calculator, and get at least two written quotes.
Choosing an installer
- License: check the contractor on the Maryland Home Improvement Commission license lookup and that the license covers this work.
- Quote: ask for an itemized written quote that names the equipment, warranties and who pulls the permit and handles the utility approval.
- Compare: get two or three quotes and compare them line by line, not only the total.
Get solar quotes in Baltimore
Tell us about your project in Baltimore. We reply ourselves and match you with a licensed installer who serves your area. It is free, with no obligation, and nothing is shared with an installer unless you choose one.
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Solar Panel Installation in Baltimore FAQs
Is solar worth it in Baltimore?
The sun is strong (about 1,180 kWh a year per kW, our estimate), but export credits are low, so solar pays most when sized to what you use at home or paired with a battery. See the Maryland incentives for the state credit.
Is there a federal solar tax credit in 2026?
No. The federal 25D credit ended for expenditures after December 31, 2025. Maryland has no state solar income tax credit that we found; the state’s help is a sales and property tax exemption, the income-based Solar Access rebate (up to $7,500) and certified solar credits.
Do I need a permit for solar panels in Baltimore?
Usually yes, and the utility may need to approve solar and batteries. Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, Permits and Inspections handles permits in Baltimore; see the permit information above.
How do I find a licensed installer in Baltimore?
Use the quote button on this page. We reply ourselves and match you with a licensed installer who serves your area; you can check any contractor on the Maryland Home Improvement Commission license lookup.
Sources: sunshine and climate NASA POWER; hazards FEMA National Risk Index; utility numbers EIA-861 (2024); prices EnergySage (October 2026) and Generac (U.S.); credits IRS and the Maryland Comptroller; permit information from the city or town’s own page; utility programs from each utility’s own pages (October 2026). General information, not financial, tax, legal or electrical advice. See our editorial policy.