What must a home seller disclose about solar panels, batteries, and permits?

What the rule says

There is no single national disclosure form or statute that tells a home seller exactly what to say about solar panels, home batteries, or permit history. No federal statute requiring a solar-specific seller disclosure in a residential home sale was identified in the official sources reviewed as of August 16, 2026. Instead, three layers do the work: state transfer-disclosure law, which varies from state to state; the solar loan, lease, or power purchase agreement (PPA) contract; and general property law, including public UCC filings.

The state statutes reviewed for this guide all use general property-condition disclosure forms rather than solar-specific ones. The three examples below are verified from the enacted statutes.

Oregon. A seller of real property improved by one to four dwelling units, a condominium unit, a timeshare, or a manufactured dwelling on owned land must complete, sign, and deliver a seller's property disclosure statement to each buyer who makes a written offer (ORS 105.465). The form is set out in the statute itself (ORS 105.464). In the dwelling-structure section, the form asks whether there are any additions, conversions, or remodeling and, if yes, whether a building permit was required, whether a building permit was obtained, and whether final inspection was obtained. It also asks whether a woodstove or fireplace insert was installed with a permit and whether water treatment systems on the property are leased or owned. A buyer who disapproves of the disclosure may revoke the offer within five business days after delivery unless the buyer has waived that right (ORS 105.475).

Washington. In a sale of improved residential real property, the seller must deliver a completed seller disclosure statement in the format prescribed by statute, unless the buyer has expressly waived the right to receive it or the transfer is exempt (RCW 64.06.020). The statutory form asks whether there have been any conversions, additions, or remodeling and, if yes, whether all building permits and final inspections were obtained; it also asks whether certain equipment — for example, water treatment systems — is leased or owned. The statute has been amended, and a new version of the section takes effect January 1, 2027.

California. For most residential transfers, the disclosures are made on the statutory Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement (Civil Code section 1102.6); the statute page notes that the form text appears in the published chaptered bill (2020 Statutes, Chapter 370). Sales of a separate interest in a common interest development carry a separate, defined package: the owner must provide governing documents, a statement of current and unpaid assessments and fines, and other listed documents "as soon as practicable before the transfer of title or the execution of a real property sales contract" (Civil Code section 4525). For solar on a multifamily common-area roof shared by more than one homeowner, the association may require the owner and each successive owner to be responsible for "[d]isclosing to prospective buyers the existence of any solar energy system of the owner and the related responsibilities of the owner under this section" (Civil Code section 4746).

None of these three statutes contains a solar- or battery-specific disclosure question in its form. Solar panels, batteries, and other energy equipment are captured through general condition and permit-history questions, contract terms, and — in California common interest developments — the specific CID rules above.

Which authority controls

• State transfer-disclosure law controls what form is used, when it must be delivered, and what it must contain: Oregon ORS 105.462–105.490; Washington RCW 64.06.020; California Civil Code sections 1102.6, 4525, and 4746.
• The solar contract controls the financing side. The Federal Trade Commission's guidance says the contract should tell you what you must do to keep it in good standing — such as notifying the company if you plan to sell your house — and whether you may transfer the contract to the buyer, whether written notice is required before transfer, and whether the buyer must meet credit requirements or pay fees.
• UCC Article 9 and the secretary of state filing system control how a secured solar loan appears in the public record. A financing statement must be filed to perfect a security interest (California Commercial Code section 9310), and the secretary of state is the central filing office; filings are public records (California Secretary of State).
• Local permitting authorities hold the permit and final-inspection records that the reviewed state forms ask sellers to report.

What may still be required or restricted

• Truthful answers about permits. Washington's form asks whether all building permits and final inspections were obtained for conversions, additions, or remodeling, and Oregon's form asks whether a permit was required, obtained, and finally inspected. Sellers sign these forms under a verification that the answers are complete and correct to the best of their knowledge; if work was done without a permit, check the local record and answer accurately rather than guessing.
• Lease and PPA transfers need the company's consent. The FTC's checklist asks whether the buyer will have to meet credit requirements or pay fees before taking over the contract, and contracts may carry early termination fees or buyout costs.
• Secured loans must be resolved at closing. Because a filed UCC financing statement is a public record, escrow practice generally requires the loan to be paid off from sale proceeds or formally assumed before the buyer takes title clear of the filing.
• California common interest development paperwork. The section 4525 package must be delivered before transfer, and shared-roof solar owners may owe unit-owner notices, liability insurance certificates (within 14 days of approval and annually), and buyer disclosures that bind successive owners (Civil Code section 4746).
• Buyer waivers and exemptions exist. Washington allows a buyer to expressly waive the disclosure statement, and Oregon's buyer-revocation right can be waived in writing.

Facts that could change the answer

• State and property type. Oregon's disclosure duty covers one-to-four dwelling units, condominiums, timeshares, and manufactured dwellings on owned land, but not leaseholds. Condominium and other common interest sales in California trigger the section 4525 package, and shared-roof systems carry their own rules.
• Who owns the system. Whether panels are owned free and clear, financed by a loan, or leased or under a PPA changes what a sale involves, because the contract and the public record — not a disclosure form — carry the financing terms.
• Permit history. Unpermitted solar or battery work can show up in the permit questions on the reviewed state forms and may be a material condition a buyer expects to know about.
• Timing of law changes. Washington's disclosure form is amended effective January 1, 2027, and California's shared-roof rules date from 2017 legislation effective January 1, 2018. Confirm the current version before relying on a form.
• Local law and governing documents. Local rules and, in common interest developments, the governing documents may add requirements beyond the state statutes reviewed here.

Practical decision path

For sellers: (1) Pull the solar loan, lease, or PPA contract and read the transfer, notice, consent, and buyout provisions. (2) Locate the permits and final-inspection certificates for the solar, battery, and other energy work. (3) Complete the state disclosure form honestly, answering the permit and equipment questions from the records. (4) Request a payoff statement for any secured loan, and notify the solar company as the contract requires before listing. (5) In a California common interest development, assemble the section 4525 package and any section 4746 disclosures and insurance certificates early so closing is not delayed.

For buyers: (1) Read the disclosure statement and ask in writing whether the solar or battery system is owned, leased, or under a PPA, and whether all work was permitted and inspected. (2) Ask for copies of the permits and final inspections. (3) Run a UCC search at the secretary of state for filings against the seller or the property. (4) Confirm whether any loan will be paid off or assumed and what transfer fees or credit requirements apply. (5) Confirm the utility account and any net-metering or interconnection agreement transfers separately.

Records to keep

Keep the completed disclosure statement and amendments; permits and final-inspection certificates for all energy work; the solar contract with its transfer and buyout terms; payoff statements and the UCC financing statement number; the California section 4525 package and section 4746 disclosures and insurance certificates where applicable; and the closing statement showing how the solar obligation was resolved.

When professional advice may help

A real estate attorney can review the solar contract's transfer and buyout terms and your state's disclosure form before you list. Your escrow officer or title company handles payoff and lien clearance, and your local building department holds the permit records. Before work begins, obtain the written requirement from the local building, electrical, zoning, fire, or utility office and keep the record.