Sunprint
Your main options, side by side
Four paths cover almost everyone: cash, a solar loan, a lease, or Florida's PACE program. Power purchase agreements, where a company sells you the electricity from panels on your roof, are common in other states but are not allowed for rooftop solar in Florida; our solar PPA guide explains why. The table below is the fast version, and you can expand any card underneath for the details.
| Cash | Loan | Lease | PACE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You own it? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Money down | Full cost | Often $0 | Often $0 | Often $0 |
| Property tax exemption* | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Tied to | You | You | You / contract | The property |
| Best if you | Have the cash | Want ownership, spread the cost | Want $0 down, no ownership | Have equity, staying long-term |
*Florida's property tax exemption for solar, see the incentives guide.
Cash
Cheapest over time: no interest, no third party, fastest payback.
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Requires the largest upfront number, so most people either save specifically for it or pull from a low-yield savings account. You own the system immediately, so every Florida ownership incentive applies from day one.
Solar loan
You own it, but spread the cost over 5 to 20 years.
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Compare the APR, not just the monthly payment. A longer term can shrink the payment while costing more overall. Some "0% interest" offers hide a dealer fee in the system price instead. Ask for the cash price and financed price side by side.
Lease
A company owns the panels; you pay a fixed monthly lease payment.
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Usually little to no money down, but no property tax exemption since you don't own the equipment. Watch for an annual payment escalator, and know that selling your home means the buyer must qualify to take over the contract, or you buy it out.
Florida PACE
Repaid through your property tax bill, so it stays with the property.
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Florida's residential PACE rules are in Florida Statute 163.081. The assessment is a lien that ranks with property taxes, so FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rules generally require it paid off to refinance or sell, and availability depends on your county. Our guide to PACE financing in Florida covers the rules, the 2026 federal protections and payoff.
Another option is the Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF), a Florida nonprofit that lends to buyers who don't qualify for a conventional solar loan. The rate usually runs higher than a bank loan, but the underwriting is more flexible, so it's worth comparing after you've checked bank and credit union rates first.
What no-cost solar means in Florida
You will see ads for no-cost solar. It usually means $0 down, not free. In Florida that is a solar loan with no money down, a lease, or PACE, and you still make payments for years. If it's a lease, see whether a solar lease is a good idea before you sign.
- Ask for the total you will pay over the whole term, not just the monthly payment.
- Ask whether the payment rises each year, and by how much.
- Ask what it costs to buy out or transfer the agreement if you sell your home.
- With a lease you do not own the panels, so the owner property tax exemption in the table above does not apply to you.
- A $0-down loan or PACE can cost more in total than paying cash, because you pay interest or fees over time.
Questions worth asking before you sign anything
- What's the APR, not just the monthly payment, and is a dealer fee baked into the price?
- Is there a prepayment penalty?
- Lease: what's the annual escalator, and the buyout price at year 5, 10, 15?
- What happens to the agreement if you sell the house?
- PACE: how does this affect refinancing, and what's your county's administrator track record?
Before any of that, check that the company is licensed and that you received Florida's separate solar disclosure form. Our guide on how to check a solar company walks through both, plus your right to cancel.
On Florida law: the Florida Supreme Court held in 1988 that only a utility may sell electricity to retail customers, which is why residential PPAs are not allowed, and the Public Service Commission has ruled that a fixed equipment lease is not a sale of electricity. Sources: Holland & Knight · pv magazine · Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
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