Solar panels in Sarasota, FL
See what solar and battery backup could save your Sarasota home on FPL's rates, with full-retail net metering and $0-down options. Free, no-obligation quotes from installers serving Sarasota County.
Free, no-obligation quotes. Savings vary by home and utility. $0-down offers are leases or loans and are subject to approval.
Photo: The Sarasota skyline across the bay, Cullen Morgan, CC BY 4.0
By the FL Solar Deals Editorial Team · Updated October 2026 · How we research
Quick answer
Is solar worth it in Sarasota, 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 Sarasota produce roughly 1,520 kWh per kW each year on an unshaded, south-facing roof.
How much does solar cost and save in Sarasota?
- Electric utility
- FPL
- County
- Sarasota County
- Population (2020)
- about 54,800
- 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 Sarasota home?
Estimates for Sarasota 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 Sarasota?
Sarasota is an FPL city with its own building department and a 2017 pledge to move the whole city to 100% renewable energy by 2045.
Most homes in Sarasota 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 Sarasota 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.
Compare solar across nearby towns on the Sarasota County solar page.
Is your Sarasota home a good fit?
About 58% of homes in Sarasota are owner-occupied, and the median owner-occupied home is valued at $463,000, 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 Sarasota roof as part of your free quote.
How do I choose a solar company in Sarasota?
Check these before you sign with any solar company serving Sarasota:
- 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 the City of Sarasota or Sarasota 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 Sarasota home from one of our trusted Florida partners.
Can I add hurricane battery backup to solar in Sarasota?
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 Sarasota?
- The City of Sarasota's Development Services department issues building permits inside city limits. Siesta Key and other unincorporated areas go through Sarasota County.
- After Hurricane Milton in 2024, the city waived permit fees for storm repair work and set up an expedited Hurricane/Storm Damage application. The fee waiver covered applications filed by April 1, 2025.
- In 2017 the City Commission passed a resolution (17R-2648) setting goals of 100% renewable energy for city operations by 2030 and for the whole city by 2045.
- The City of Sarasota is a Class 5 community in FEMA's Community Rating System, so flood insurance policies in city limits get a 25% discount.
- In November 2025 the City Commission adopted a Watershed Master Plan, which the city says it needs to move up to a better flood insurance class.
- 1
Building permit
Your installer applies to the City of Sarasota or Sarasota 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 Sarasota County Property Appraiser.
Local sources: City of Sarasota: Building permits; Sarasota News Leader: Milton recovery permit fees waived (Oct. 2024); City of Sarasota: Ready for 100; Sarasota Magazine: City approves renewable energy pledge (June 2017); FPL: Communities served (tariff section 7); City of Sarasota: Flood information
How much could solar save your Sarasota home?
Get an instant solar estimate for your Sarasota 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 Sarasota can you get solar quotes?
What should Sarasota homeowners know before going solar?
Sarasota solar FAQ
Who is the electric utility in Sarasota, FL?
Most homes in Sarasota 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 Sarasota?
Not from the state or FPL. What Sarasota 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 Sarasota?
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 Sarasota home.
How much electricity do solar panels produce in Sarasota?
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 Sarasota?
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 Sarasota 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 Sarasota home
Free, no-obligation quote from a trusted Florida solar partner.