Balcony Solar in Virginia
Virginia's HB 395 legalizes portable solar devices up to 1,200 W and even amends landlord-tenant law to protect renters — but it defers the choice of certification standard to a state work group reporting in November 2026.
Reviewed August 6, 2026 against primary sources. Laws change — the sources below let you re-check.
Does Virginia require UL 3700?
No — the statute does not name UL 3700.
meets the standards of the most recent version of the National Electrical Code; is certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, as described in 29 C.F.R. § 1910.7, or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory …
Does not name UL 3700. The specific standard is deferred to a work group convened by the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, reporting by November 15, 2026.
Why this matters: “certified by UL” names an organization; “certified to UL 3700” names a plug-in-PV standard. They are not the same claim. Full explainer →
What the law does
- Must include a device or feature that prevents power export to the building's electrical system during an outage (anti-islanding).
- Amends the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to protect renters installing these devices.
What's still unsettled
- The governing certification standard is not yet chosen — a work group reports by November 15, 2026.
- Enrolled full text read via LIS (JavaScript-rendered), not a downloaded PDF.
Before you buy in Virginia
A state law opening the door is only one of three gates. The gear must actually be certified to what the law asks for — and today no plug-in kit sold in the US carries UL 3700 yet. Your utility may still want notification. If you rent, your lease or HOA is a separate yes. What "UL 3700 certified" really means →