Your Solar Consumer Rights in California
Straight answer: California law gives you real protections when you buy solar. You’re entitled to a written contract, a solar disclosure document printed on the cover page, and the CPUC California Solar Consumer Protection Guide. Your down payment is capped, and you generally get at least a 3-business-day right to cancel — 5 business days if you’re 65 or older. Here’s how to use each one.
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- You’re entitled to a written, signed contract before any work — with the contractor’s name, address, and CSLB license number (Business & Professions Code §7159).
- Every residential solar contract must carry a Solar Energy System Disclosure Document on its cover page, and you should receive the CPUC California Solar Consumer Protection Guide.
- Your down payment is capped at $1,000 or 10% of the price, whichever is less, and you generally get at least a 3-business-day right to cancel (5 business days if you’re 65 or older).
- This is general information, not legal advice — for your own situation, talk to a qualified attorney or contact the CSLB and CPUC.
Your core rights at a glance
California has some of the strongest solar consumer-protection rules in the country. Here are the big ones — what the law actually requires, and how to put each to use before you sign. Figures and rules can change, so treat this as a starting map and verify the current details.
| Your right | What the law requires | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| A written contract | Home-improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing and signed before work starts, listing the contractor’s name, address, and license number (B&P §7159). | Never sign a blank or verbal deal. Check the license number matches the company name. |
| A solar disclosure document | Every residential solar contract must show a Solar Energy System Disclosure Document on the cover page in boldface 16-point type — total cost, financing, and how to complain (B&P §7169). | Read the cover page first. The total cost and financing terms live here. |
| The CPUC protection guide | Providers give you the California Solar Consumer Protection Guide; investor-owned-utility customers sign its first pages before interconnection. | Read it before you sign anything — you shouldn’t be rushed through it. |
| A right to cancel | Generally at least 3 business days to cancel a contract signed at home — 5 business days if you’re 65 or older. | Cancel in writing before the deadline and keep a dated copy. Terms vary by where and how you signed. |
| A capped down payment | The down payment can’t exceed $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less (B&P §7159.5). | If asked for more up front, that’s a stop sign. Later payments should track work done. |
| A licensed, bonded contractor | Solar work requires an active CSLB license, backed by a $25,000 contractor bond. | Verify the license and status free at CSLB’s “Check a License” before you sign. |
| A path to complain | You can file a complaint — including a dedicated solar complaint form — with the CSLB. | Keep every document; file online or call (800) 321-CSLB if something goes wrong. |
Sources: CSLB — Home Improvement Contracts · CPUC Solar Consumer Protection Guide. Rules and dollar limits can change — verify the current version.
The written contract: what it must contain
In California, a home-improvement job over $500 — which nearly every solar install is — needs a written, signed contract before work begins (Business & Professions Code §7159). At a minimum it should name the contractor, their business address, and their CSLB license number; describe the work, equipment, and price; give start and estimated completion dates; and include the standard notices (your right to a signed copy, a mechanics-lien warning, and the cancellation notice where it applies).
Two money rules matter most. Your down payment is capped at $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less (B&P §7159.5) — on a $25,000 system that’s a $1,000 cap, not $2,500. And payments should follow the work performed, not run far ahead of it. A demand for a large upfront deposit is a reason to pause and ask why.
The two documents unique to solar
Beyond a normal contract, California adds two solar-specific safeguards. Simply knowing they exist is half the protection.
The Solar Energy System Disclosure Document
Since 2019, every residential solar contract must carry this disclosure on its cover page, in boldface 16-point type (B&P §7169). It states the total cost and financing, how and to whom to complain, and your cancellation right — written in the same language used to sell to you, and required for a sale, loan, or lease.
The CPUC Solar Consumer Protection Guide
The state’s California Solar Consumer Protection Guide explains rates, financing, and your rights. If you’re a customer of an investor-owned utility (SCE, PG&E, or SDG&E), you must sign its first pages — confirming you haven’t signed a contract yet — before the utility approves interconnection. Municipal utilities like LADWP run their own programs; the guide is still worth reading.
Generally 3 business days — 5 if you’re 65 or older
For a contract signed at your home (how most solar is sold), you generally have at least 3 business days to cancel without penalty — and 5 business days if you’re 65 or older. To cancel, deliver written notice (your contract includes a cancellation form) before midnight of the last day, and keep a dated copy. The exact right depends on where and how you signed — sign at the contractor’s place of business and the statutory 3-day right may not apply — so read the cancellation terms your contract actually states. This is general information, not legal advice.
Verify the license and bond — it takes two minutes
Before you sign, confirm the contractor holds an active CSLB license with a classification appropriate to the work — for the electrical side of solar PV that’s typically C-10 (electrical); roofing falls under C-39, and a General B covers broader projects. Every active license is backed by a $25,000 contractor bond you may be able to claim against if work goes wrong. Use CSLB’s free “Check a License” tool to confirm the number, status, classifications, and any disciplinary history. For a fuller walkthrough of vetting a company, see how to choose a solar installer in California.
What an active license looks like
Cali Energy holds CSLB #1032379 (classifications B, C-10, and C-39), the license that covers our solar, battery, roofing, and electrical work across Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Whoever you hire, look up their number the same way before you sign.
Leases and PPAs: extra fine print to read
If you don’t buy the system outright, the same disclosure and cancellation rules apply — but a lease or power-purchase agreement (PPA) adds its own terms worth reading closely: a third party owns the panels, payments often escalate a few percent a year, and there’s usually a buyout or transfer step when you sell the home. On the tax side, because the third party owns the system, they — not you — may claim any business clean-energy credit; a homeowner doesn’t claim the residential credit on a leased system (and that residential credit ended for owner-bought systems after 2025 anyway). Compare all four ways to pay in cash vs loan vs lease vs PPA.
If something goes wrong: how to file a CSLB complaint
The Contractors State License Board mediates disputes and can investigate licensed and unlicensed contractors. Here’s the short version.
1. Gather your paperwork
Copies of the contract (front and back), canceled checks, invoices, ads, and any messages. Documentation is what moves a complaint forward.
2. File the complaint
Use CSLB’s online complaint form — there’s a dedicated solar complaint form — or call (800) 321-CSLB (2752).
3. Work through the process
CSLB reviews the complaint and may contact the parties, investigate, mediate, or pursue disciplinary action depending on the facts; processing time varies, and filing does not guarantee financial recovery. Unresolved issues can escalate; the $25,000 bond may be a source of recovery.
- I have a written, signed contract with the contractor’s name, address, and CSLB license number.
- The Solar Energy System Disclosure Document is on the cover page, with total cost and financing.
- I received the CPUC Solar Consumer Protection Guide and had time to read it.
- The down payment is $1,000 or 10% or less, and later payments track the work.
- I verified the license and bond at CSLB, including classifications and status.
- I know my cancellation window (3 business days, or 5 if 65+) and how to give written notice.
This guide is about your legal rights and recourse. To pressure-test a single proposal for missing details and sales tactics, use our solar quote red flags checklist; to line up two offers side by side, see how to compare two solar quotes. And remember: this is general information, not legal advice — for your own situation, consult a qualified attorney or contact the CSLB and CPUC directly.
Frequently asked
How long do I have to cancel a solar contract in California?
For a contract signed at your home — how most residential solar is sold — you generally have at least 3 business days to cancel without penalty, and 5 business days if you’re 65 or older. Cancel in writing before midnight of the last day (your contract includes a cancellation form) and keep a dated copy. The exact right can vary by where and how you signed, so read the cancellation terms in your contract. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much of a down payment can a solar contractor ask for?
By law, the down payment on a home-improvement contract can’t exceed $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less, excluding finance charges (Business & Professions Code §7159.5). On a $25,000 solar system, that’s a $1,000 cap. After that, payments should track the work performed — a demand for a large upfront deposit is a reason to pause and verify.
Do I have to sign the California Solar Consumer Protection Guide?
If you’re a customer of an investor-owned utility — SCE, PG&E, or SDG&E — you must sign the first pages of the CPUC’s California Solar Consumer Protection Guide, confirming you haven’t yet signed a contract, before the utility approves interconnection. Municipal utilities such as LADWP run their own programs and processes, but the guide is still valuable reading. Either way, get it early and don’t let anyone rush you through it.
How do I check if a solar contractor is licensed in California?
Use the CSLB’s free “Check a License” tool at cslb.ca.gov. Confirm the license is active, matches the company name, carries a classification appropriate to the work (the electrical side of solar PV is typically C-10; roofing is C-39; a General B covers broader projects), and has no unresolved discipline. Every active license is backed by a $25,000 contractor bond.
How do I file a complaint against a solar company?
File with the Contractors State License Board. Gather copies of your contract, checks, and invoices, then use CSLB’s online complaint form (there’s a dedicated solar complaint form) or call (800) 321-CSLB (2752). CSLB usually contacts both parties within a few weeks and attempts to mediate; unresolved cases can escalate, and the contractor’s $25,000 bond may be a source of recovery.
What paperwork should I get before signing a solar contract?
Three things: a written, signed contract with the contractor’s name, address, and CSLB license number (B&P §7159); the Solar Energy System Disclosure Document on the contract’s cover page showing total cost and financing (B&P §7169); and the CPUC Solar Consumer Protection Guide. If any of the three is missing, ask for it before you sign. This is general information, not legal advice.
Related reading
Know your rights, then get a clear proposal
We put the license number, the disclosure document, and an itemized price in writing up front — so you can check every right on this page before you decide.
Get a free estimatePrepared by Cali Energy, August 2026. This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, financial, engineering, or utility advice. Rates, incentives, codes, permit requirements, equipment specifications, prices, and program terms may change; figures and timelines are estimates, not guarantees. Confirm current requirements with the applicable utility, AHJ, program administrator, manufacturer, or a licensed professional. See our Content Disclaimer. Cali Energy · 19201 Parthenia St Unit E, Northridge, CA 91324 · CSLB #1032379 (B, C-10, C-39)