Solar panels in Hobe Sound, FL
See what solar and battery backup could save your Hobe Sound home on FPL's rates, with full-retail net metering and $0-down options. Free, no-obligation quotes from installers serving Martin County.
Free, no-obligation quotes. Savings vary by home and utility. $0-down offers are leases or loans and are subject to approval.
By the FL Solar Deals Editorial Team · Updated October 2026 · How we research
Quick answer
Is solar worth it in Hobe Sound, FL?
For many homes, yes. With a $200 monthly FPL bill, we estimate a 9.6 kW system costs about $25,900 and pays for itself in about 13 years, because FPL credits exported solar at the full retail rate. Panels in Hobe Sound produce roughly 1,520 kWh per kW each year on an unshaded, south-facing roof.
How much does solar cost and save in Hobe Sound?
- Electric utility
- FPL
- County
- Martin County
- Population (2020)
- about 13,200
- Solar output per kW
- ~1,520 kWh/year
- System for a $200/mo bill
- ~9.6 kW (24 panels)
- Typical FPL rate
- ~13.7¢/kWh
- Est. cost / payback
- $25,900 / ~13 yrs
- 25-year savings
- $63,900
Estimates for a cash purchase on an unshaded, south-facing roof with a $200 monthly bill. Your roof and rate plan will change the numbers. How we estimate
What would a solar estimate look like for a Hobe Sound home?
Estimates for Hobe Sound homes at four common bill sizes. Bigger bills need bigger systems that cost more up front, but payback stays about the same, because every kWh the panels make is credited at FPL's full rate. Homes that use more than 1,000 kWh a month pay a higher rate on the extra, so they often do a little better than shown.
| Monthly bill | System size | Panels | Roof space | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150/mo | 6.8 kW | 17 | ~360 sq ft | $18,400 | 13 yrs |
| $200/mo | 9.6 kW | 24 | ~500 sq ft | $25,900 | 13 yrs |
| $300/mo | 15.2 kW | 38 | ~800 sq ft | $41,000 | 13 yrs |
| $400/mo | 21.2 kW | 53 | ~1,110 sq ft | $57,200 | 13 yrs |
How does solar work with FPL in Hobe Sound?
Hobe Sound is an unincorporated Martin County community on FPL that was hit by two tornadoes in 2024, including an EF2 during Hurricane Milton.
Most homes in Hobe Sound get their electricity from Florida Power & Light (FPL). FPL net meters under the Florida PSC's rule: power your panels send to the grid comes back as a kWh credit at the full retail rate, credits roll forward for up to 12 months, and anything left at year-end is paid out at only a few cents per kWh. So the best Hobe Sound systems are sized to cover a year of use, not more. See the full FPL solar guide.
Solar can't take your bill below FPL's monthly minimum of about $30.
These estimates apply to homes with mailing addresses in Hobe Sound, including ZIP code 33455.
Compare solar across nearby towns on the Martin County solar page.
Is your Hobe Sound home a good fit?
About 78% of homes in Hobe Sound are owner-occupied, and the median owner-occupied home is valued at $394,700, compared with 68% and $359,000 statewide, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2020-2024 estimates).
- You own the home. Rooftop solar requires owning the roof.
- Your roof gets sun for most of the day on its south, west or east side, without heavy tree shade.
- Your roof has years of life left. Replacing an aging shingle or tile roof before installing saves a removal and reinstall fee later.
- Your FPL bill is regularly over about $150 a month, or you're adding an EV or a pool pump.
Not sure? A specialist can check satellite imagery of your Hobe Sound roof as part of your free quote.
How do I choose a solar company in Hobe Sound?
Check these before you sign with any solar company serving Hobe Sound:
- A Florida contractor license. Look up the company's license on the Florida DBPR license search and make sure it's active.
- Permits and utility paperwork included. The price should cover the permit with Martin County, inspections and the FPL net metering application.
- Two or three quotes compared on price per watt, equipment and warranties. Our solar quote checker flags high prices and other red flags, and our guide to choosing a solar company covers the rest.
Or request a free quote for your Hobe Sound home from one of our trusted Florida partners.
Can I add hurricane battery backup to solar in Hobe Sound?
Yes. A battery stores your solar power and keeps chosen circuits running when the FPL grid goes down, which standard solar alone can't do: grid-tied panels shut off in an outage. After a storm, the panels recharge the battery each sunny day until the grid comes back. One 13.5 kWh battery runs about $13,000 installed at recent South Florida prices, with no utility or state rebate.
One battery usually covers essentials; running central air usually takes two or more. Because FPL already credits exported solar at the full rate, a battery's value is backup, not a lower bill. See solar battery backup for hurricanes.
What permits and paperwork does solar need in Hobe Sound?
- During Hurricane Milton on October 9, 2024, an EF2 tornado with peak winds of 120 mph tracked 5.7 miles through Hobe Sound, starting near Lost Lake and moving into The Preserve, where many concrete block homes lost roof tiles.
- Four months earlier, on June 12, 2024, an EF1 tornado hit along Bridge Road, tearing shingles off a home. With two tornadoes in one year, have your installer check the roof's age and condition before panels go on.
- Hobe Sound is unincorporated, so Martin County issues building permits.
- Martin County, which issues permits in Hobe Sound, raised its flood insurance discount for high-risk zones from 20% to 25% in 2023.
- Martin County has pursued a FEMA-backed stormwater project for Hobe Sound's Hobe Heights neighborhood, which flooded badly in 2020.
- 1
Building permit
Your installer applies to Martin County for the permit, with plans designed to Florida Building Code wind loads, and an inspector checks the finished work. Since July 2025, state law lets a private provider review residential solar and battery plans, with a decision due within 5 business days.
- 2
FPL net metering application
Your installer applies to FPL to connect the system. Most home systems are Tier 1 (up to 10 kW), with no application fee.
- 3
Meter swap and permission to operate
After the final inspection, FPL installs a net meter and gives permission to turn the system on.
- 4
Property tax
Florida law keeps the value solar adds out of your home's assessment. If you're unsure whether anything needs to be filed, ask the Martin County Property Appraiser.
Local sources: National Weather Service Melbourne: Hobe Sound tornado survey (Oct. 2024); WQCS: EF1 tornado confirmed in Hobe Sound (June 2024); Martin County: Apply for a building permit; FPL: Communities served (tariff section 7); WQCS: Lower flood insurance rates in Martin County (Mar. 2023); Martin County: Hobe Heights flood risk reduction public notice
How much could solar save your Hobe Sound home?
Get an instant solar estimate for your Hobe Sound home: enter your bill to see a system size, cost, payback and what battery backup adds.
Your estimate
- System size
- 9.6 kW
- about 24 panels
- Yearly production
- 14,592 kWh
- vs. about 14,891 kWh used
- First-year savings
- $1,999
- about $167/month
- Payback
- 13 years
- $63,900 saved over 25 years
| Estimated costNo Florida state or utility rebate applies; sales tax is already exempt. | $25,900 |
|---|
Planning estimate only, not a quote. Assumes a south-facing roof, a cash purchase and a system sized to cover up to a year of use. Real numbers depend on your roof, equipment and rate plan. How we estimate
How it works
- 1
Enter your ZIP
We confirm your home is in Florida and which utility serves it.
- 2
Answer a few questions
Your typical electric bill, your roof and how you'd like to pay. It takes about two minutes.
- 3
Talk to a local specialist
A Florida installer models your real savings from your bills and roof, with battery backup if you want it. You decide what happens next.
Where else near Hobe Sound can you get solar quotes?
What should Hobe Sound homeowners know before going solar?
Hobe Sound solar FAQ
Who is the electric utility in Hobe Sound, FL?
Most homes in Hobe Sound are served by Florida Power & Light (FPL). Some addresses near town edges may be on a city-owned utility or an electric co-op, so check the name on your bill.
Are there solar rebates in Hobe Sound?
Not from the state or FPL. What Hobe Sound homeowners do get is full-retail net metering from FPL, no sales tax on solar equipment, and no property tax on the value solar adds to the home. The 30% federal homeowner credit ended after 2025.
How much do solar panels cost in Hobe Sound?
For a home with a $200 monthly bill, we estimate a 9.6 kW system at about $25,900, which pays for itself in about 13 yrs. A lease can bring the upfront cost to $0. Try the solar savings calculator, or get a free quote for real numbers on your Hobe Sound home.
How much electricity do solar panels produce in Hobe Sound?
About 1,520 kWh per year for each kW of panels on an unshaded, south-facing roof, so a 9.6 kW system would make roughly 14,592 kWh a year. Shade, roof direction and pitch can lower that.
Will solar keep my power on during a hurricane in Hobe Sound?
Only with a battery. Grid-tied panels shut off when the FPL grid goes down, for the safety of line crews; a battery keeps chosen circuits running and the panels recharge it each sunny day.
Can my HOA in Hobe Sound stop me from going solar?
No. Florida law bars HOAs and deed restrictions from prohibiting solar panels. The association can choose where on the roof they go, as long as the spot faces south or within 45° east or west of due south and doesn't keep them from working well.
Get a free solar quote for your Hobe Sound home
Free, no-obligation quote from a trusted Florida solar partner.