Relating to portable solar photovoltaic energy devices; prescribing an effective date
Latest Action: March 6, 2026
Balcony Solar in Oregon
Balcony solar bill failed
Verified as of September 25, 2026
Everything you need to know about plug-in balcony solar in Oregon: legal status, tracked bills, statutory wattage limits, utility interconnection rules, and expected monthly solar production.
Legislation Summary
- Status
- Balcony solar bill failed
- Wattage allowed
- Not yet verified
- Wattage tiers
- Not yet verified
- HOA / Condo Protections
- Not yet verified
- Plug-in Battery Storage
- Not yet verified
- Renters & Tenant Rights
- Not yet verified
- Permit & Electrician DIY Status
- Not yet verified
- Utility Interconnection
- Not yet verified
- Bill
- HB 4080 - Relating to portable solar photovoltaic energy devices; prescribing an effective date
- Date passed
- Not yet verified
- Date effective
- Not yet verified
Legal Status: Can You Plug In Solar in Oregon?
Current Disposition: Balcony solar bill failed
Oregon has no law either authorizing or restricting portable solar. HB 4080 (2026) would have allowed portable solar photovoltaic devices up to 1,200 watts; OLIS shows it still in House committee when the 2026 regular session adjourned sine die on March 6, 2026, so it failed. Note the bill text carries its own 'takes effect July 1, 2026' clause, which is a clause of a measure that never passed. Official OLIS bill-text searches returned machine-checkable results for all seven target phrases, confirming HB 4080 was the only relevant measure. The ORS has no phrase-search endpoint, so an exhaustive existing-law sweep is not available.
Tracked Legislation in Oregon
Estimated Solar Energy Production in Oregon
How much electricity will a standard plug-in solar kit produce on a balcony or patio in Oregon? Below are monthly estimates based on local insolation levels:
Standard 400W Kit
~559 kWh
Estimated annual electricity production
Dual-Panel 800W Kit
~1116 kWh
Estimated annual electricity production
| Month | Daily Peak Sun Hours | 400W Kit (1 Panel) | 800W Kit (2 Panels) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.3 hrs | 25 kWh | 49 kWh |
| Feb | 3.2 hrs | 31 kWh | 62 kWh |
| Mar | 4.2 hrs | 45 kWh | 90 kWh |
| Apr | 5.1 hrs | 53 kWh | 105 kWh |
| May | 5.6 hrs | 60 kWh | 119 kWh |
| Jun | 5.8 hrs | 60 kWh | 120 kWh |
| Jul | 6.3 hrs | 67 kWh | 134 kWh |
| Aug | 6.2 hrs | 66 kWh | 132 kWh |
| Sep | 5.7 hrs | 59 kWh | 118 kWh |
| Oct | 4.3 hrs | 46 kWh | 92 kWh |
| Nov | 2.5 hrs | 26 kWh | 52 kWh |
| Dec | 2.0 hrs | 21 kWh | 43 kWh |
| Annual Total | -- | ~559 kWh | ~1116 kWh |
Estimates derived from historical National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL NSRDB) solar radiation averages across weather stations in Oregon, modeling an 86% system performance ratio.
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Open Solar Savings Simulator for Oregon →Local Solar Permitting Streamlining in Oregon
While balcony solar kits are designed for plug-in operation, municipal permitting processes indicate solar-friendly administrative environments:
0
SolarAPP+ Jurisdictions
Municipalities with automated, instant online rooftop & storage permits.
7
SolSmart Communities
Cities and counties recognized for removing red tape and barriers to solar growth.
Incentives, Solar Rights & Grid Barriers
State Incentives & Solar Rights
- Energy Trust of Oregon incentives for full solar installations
Utility Barriers & Interconnection Rules
- Interconnection agreement required
- NEC-compliant installation required
- HB 4080 died at adjournment on 2026-03-06 - no legal exemption for plug-in devices
Official Oregon Energy Resources
- Oregon HB 4080 (2026) - measure document (primary)
- OPB - Oregon lawmakers seek to shine light on balcony solar (secondary)
- DSIRE Oregon (secondary)