California property tax exemptions for PV systems extended to 2025

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

A property tax exemption for solar power systems in California has been extended to 2025, following the passing of a bill as part of the annual state budget.

Senate Bill 871 (SB871) was approved during the signing of the budget by governor Jerry Brown, which took place last week. The wording of SB871 extends the period during which property taxes will not be applied to “active solar energy systems”, which includes PV and solar water heaters.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

This exclusion period was originally set to run until the end of 2016 – it will now last until 1 January 2025. The issue of whether or not property taxes could be applied on solar power systems, according to the perceived value added to the property they are installed at, has recently also surfaced in the US state of Arizona. At the beginning of May, it was revealed that a reinterpretation of Arizona’s property laws could mean that systems leased from a third-party owner would be eligible for property taxes.

Matt Feinstein of analysis firm Lux Research told PV Tech at the time the Arizona reports appeared that the solar industry could be vulnerable to such alterations or reinterpretations to property tax law, as they might be easier for lawmakers to enact than fresh laws that singled out solar power systems for levying taxes on.

Feinstein said it was likely the changes proposed in Arizona were another symptom of the “state by state” fight between the solar industry and the incumbent monopoly over the electricity market held by utilities in the US.

Reacting to the news from California, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) head Rhone Resch commended Governor Brown’s actions. He praised the governor “and his lawmakers” for their foresight and for their “commitment to a clean environment”.

“The extension of the exclusion does not take funds away from any jurisdictions where taxes are currently being collected, nor does it have an impact on the General Fund. But the exclusion will reduce wholesale solar electricity costs for utility customers, and it reduces barriers to accessing solar for customer-sited projects. Simply put, many homeowners would not choose to install solar if faced with a property tax reassessment,” Resch said.

Governor Brown is widely acknowleged to have made numerous efforts to promote solar power in his years in US politics. Another recent piece of legislation, the proposed Assembly Bill 2188 (AB2188), would cut so-called 'soft costs' for solar by streamlining the permitting process required to gain approval for a residential solar power system in California. Walker Wright, director of public policy at SunRun said earlier this month that AB2188 could help end the “bureaucratic nightmare” that the approval process could often become.

Read Next

August 1, 2025
DSD Renewables has raised US$238 million to bolster its portfolio of solar projects in 12 US states plus the District of Colombia.
Premium
August 1, 2025
Utility-scale solar is preparing for its next voltage evolution, with 2,000V systems emerging as the successor to the 1,500V standard.
August 1, 2025
The Q3 edition of our downstream solar PV journal, PV Tech Power, is now available to download.
Premium
August 1, 2025
Sustained private investment into UK solar is starting to produce results, at least with regard to the role of solar power in its energy mix.
August 1, 2025
US solar module manufacturer First Solar saw sales and net profits increase in Q2 2025, as it forecasts a strong performance under the Trump administration’s industrial and trade policy changes.
August 1, 2025
The US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas has approved the sale of substantially all of residential solar installer Sunnova's assets and business operations.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK