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Boston is one of the best cities in America for solar. Eversource rates at $0.2836/kWh, SMART incentives, and 100% net metering mean a 7.6-year payback — even without the federal credit. Here is what it costs in your neighborhood.
2026 Reality: The 30% federal tax credit expired for homeowners. All Boston solar costs and payback figures in this guide reflect $0 federal credit. Details
A typical 11kW solar system in Boston costs $34,760 before incentives. All of Boston is served by Eversource at $0.2836/kWh — the highest rate in Massachusetts. Combined with SMART ($0.03/kWh (flat residential) for 20 years) and 100% retail net metering, solar pays for itself in 7.6 years and saves over $154,000 over 25 years.
Average Cost
$3.16/W
Fully installed
Payback
7.6 yrs
Cash purchase
25-Year Savings
$154K
Per system
Eversource Rate
$0.2836
Per kWh, rising 5%/yr
Every neighborhood in Boston has different housing stock, roof types, and permitting requirements. Here is what to expect in yours.
Triple-deckers & multi-family
Triple-deckers have large flat or low-slope roofs — ideal for solar
Multi-unit buildings may need landlord/HOA approval
Higher energy usage (multiple units) means faster payback
Many buildings have 100-amp panels that need upgrading
Typical System
8–13 kW
Cost Range
$25,300–$41,100
Roof Area
1,400 sq ft
Permitting
Standard ISD permit, no historic review
Row houses & condos
Row houses have smaller roofs but good sun exposure
Flat roofs on newer condos are ideal for flush-mount panels
Some row houses share fire walls — panels must maintain setbacks
Condo associations must approve installations on shared roofs
Typical System
5–8 kW
Cost Range
$15,800–$25,300
Roof Area
800–1,000 sq ft
Permitting
Standard ISD permit
Victorian homes & multi-family
Large Victorian roofs provide ample space, but steep pitches limit usable area
Tree coverage is high — shade analysis is critical
Some streets have JP/Roxbury historic district restrictions
Older homes likely need 200-amp panel upgrade
Typical System
7–11 kW
Cost Range
$22,100–$34,800
Roof Area
1,200–1,800 sq ft
Permitting
ISD permit; historic review if in designated district
Historic brownstones
Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC) review required for exterior changes
Panels typically must not be visible from the public way
Flat rear roofs may be acceptable; front-facing panels usually denied
All-black panels and low-profile mounts improve approval chances
Worth pursuing — the high Eversource rates make even small systems valuable
Typical System
3–6 kW
Cost Range
$9,500–$19,000
Roof Area
600–1,000 sq ft
Permitting
ISD permit + BLC historic review (add 4–8 weeks)
Single-family homes
Suburban-style homes with large south-facing roofs
Lower tree density than JP — better sun exposure
Most homes built post-1950 with adequate electrical panels
Excellent area for solar — highest residential solar density in Boston
Typical System
9–14 kW
Cost Range
$28,400–$44,200
Roof Area
1,400–2,000 sq ft
Permitting
Standard ISD permit, fastest approval
Multi-family & new construction
Mix of older multi-family and new waterfront condos
New construction often has solar-ready electrical panels
Airport proximity does not affect solar installations
Environmental justice community — may qualify for SMART low-income adder
Typical System
6–11 kW
Cost Range
$19,000–$34,800
Roof Area
1,000–1,400 sq ft
Permitting
Standard ISD permit
Row houses & new development
Historic Charlestown Navy Yard area may have restrictions
Row houses on the hill have good south-facing exposure
New development in Thompson Square area is often solar-ready
Compact lots mean less tree shading than suburban neighborhoods
Typical System
5–9 kW
Cost Range
$15,800–$28,400
Roof Area
800–1,200 sq ft
Permitting
ISD permit; Navy Yard area may need additional review
Single-family & multi-family
Larger lots with more roof space than denser neighborhoods
Mix of housing stock from 1920s–1970s
Many homes need 200-amp panel upgrades (pre-1980 construction)
Environmental justice communities — SMART low-income adder may apply
Typical System
8–12 kW
Cost Range
$25,300–$37,900
Roof Area
1,200–1,600 sq ft
Permitting
Standard ISD permit
Boston legalized Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) citywide in 2024. If you are building or planning an ADU, solar should be part of the conversation from day one.
ADU adds 3,000–6,000 kWh/year in electricity demand — a larger solar system is now justified and pays back faster
Solar + ADU increases property value without increasing property tax (MA 20-year solar exemption)
ADU rental income + solar savings = two new revenue streams from one property
Eversource rates at $0.2836/kWh make the added demand expensive — solar locks in a lower cost
New construction ADUs can be designed solar-ready (south-facing roof, conduit runs, panel capacity)
200-amp service required
Both ADU and solar need adequate amperage. Most pre-1980 Boston homes have 100-amp panels — upgrading to 200-amp costs $1,500–$4,000.
Do both at once
If you are upgrading electrical for the ADU, add solar wiring at the same time. Combined permitting and trenching saves $500–$1,500.
System sizing
A main home using 8,000 kWh/yr plus an ADU at 4,000 kWh/yr needs a 10–13 kW system. At $3.16/W, that is $31,600–$41,100.
SMART qualification
Systems up to 25 kW qualify for SMART 3.0 at $0.03/kWh for 20 years — larger ADU-driven systems still fit under the cap.
Property value tip: Massachusetts exempts solar installations from property tax assessment for 20 years. Your solar system adds approximately 4% to home value, but your property tax bill stays the same. Combined with ADU rental income, this is one of the best return-on-investment moves a Boston homeowner can make. Learn more about MA solar tax exemptions
Historic district requirements add steps to the process but do not prevent solar installation. Here is how to navigate them.
Back Bay Architectural District
Beacon Hill Historic District
Bay Village Historic District
South End Landmark District (portions)
Fort Point Channel Landmark District
Charlestown Navy Yard (portions)
Mission Hill Triangle Architectural District
Use all-black panels and black mounting hardware
Install on rear-facing or flat roofs not visible from the street
Use low-profile, flush-mount racking systems
Submit detailed photos showing panel placement from street view
Apply early — BLC review adds 4–8 weeks to timeline
Consider a SPAN smart panel to maximize a smaller system
Community solar is an alternative if rooftop is not approved
Boston's Inspectional Services Department (ISD) handles all solar permits. Your installer manages the entire process.
1–2 weeks
Site survey, shade analysis, system design, engineering stamps.
1–2 weeks
Submit plans to Boston ISD. Standard permit for non-historic areas.
+4–8 weeks
BLC review for historic districts. Not required for most neighborhoods.
1–3 days + inspection
Physical install, ISD inspection, Eversource interconnection.
Total timeline: Most Boston solar installations take 6–10 weeks from signed contract to system activation. Historic district properties should plan for 10–16 weeks. NuWatt handles all permitting, utility coordination, and inspections.
Boston is Eversource territory — and Eversource pays the highest ConnectedSolutions rates in Massachusetts. Adding a battery to your solar system unlocks a third income stream on top of SMART and net metering.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
$275/kW
10 kW battery = $2,750/yr
Winter (Dec–Mar)
$50/kW
10 kW battery = $500/yr
Annual CS Revenue
$3,250/yr
10 kW battery in Eversource territory
ConnectedSolutions stacks with the SMART battery adder ($0.04/kWh) for a combined value that makes battery storage profitable from year one.
Net Metering Savings
11 kW system at Eversource $0.2836/kWh (1:1 retail credit)
SMART 3.0 Income
$0.03/kWh × 13,200 kWh for 20 years
ConnectedSolutions Revenue
10 kW battery (e.g., Tesla Powerwall 3) enrolled in Eversource CS
Property Tax Savings
20-year exemption at 1.14% effective rate
Total Annual Value (Year 1)
Solar savings + SMART + ConnectedSolutions + tax benefits
Tesla Powerwall 2 / Powerwall 3
Enphase IQ Battery 5P / 10T
SolarEdge Home Battery 400V
Generac PWRcell
sonnen ecoLinx / eco
LG RESU Prime
Solar panels in Boston cost an average of $3.16 per watt installed. For a typical 11kW system, that is approximately $34,760 before state incentives. After the $1,000 Massachusetts state tax credit and SMART program enrollment, the effective cost is significantly lower over time. There is no federal tax credit for homeowners in 2026.
It depends on the historic district. In Back Bay and Beacon Hill, the Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC) must approve exterior modifications. Panels are typically allowed on rear-facing or flat roofs that are not visible from the public way. All-black panels with low-profile mounts have higher approval rates. The review adds 4–8 weeks to your timeline but is not a dealbreaker.
Absolutely. Triple-deckers in Dorchester, Mattapan, and Roxbury are some of the best candidates for solar in Boston. Their large flat roofs can accommodate 8–13kW systems, and the high energy usage across three units means faster payback. With Eversource rates at $0.2836/kWh and SMART incentives, payback is typically 6–8 years.
Boston requires an Inspectional Services Department (ISD) permit for solar installations. The standard permit takes 1–2 weeks. If your property is in a historic district (Back Bay, Beacon Hill, parts of the South End), you also need Boston Landmarks Commission approval, which adds 4–8 weeks. Your installer handles all permitting.
All of Boston is served by Eversource Energy, which has the highest retail rates in Massachusetts at $0.2836/kWh. Eversource offers 100% retail-rate net metering for systems up to 25kW AC and participates in both the SMART program and ConnectedSolutions battery demand response.
Yes, but you need condo association approval for installations on shared roofs. Some newer condo buildings in the Seaport and South Boston waterfront are solar-ready with pre-wired infrastructure. For individual unit owners, community solar is an alternative that requires no rooftop installation — you subscribe to a solar farm and receive bill credits.
Solar in Boston has one of the fastest payback periods in the country at approximately 7.6 years. This is driven by Eversource's high retail rates ($0.2836/kWh), SMART 3.0 incentives ($0.03/kWh flat for residential systems for 20 years, or $0.06/kWh for low-income; adders for battery storage stack on top), and full retail net metering. Over 25 years, a typical 11kW system saves approximately $154,000.
Many Boston homes — especially pre-1980 triple-deckers, Victorian homes, and row houses — have 100-amp panels that need upgrading for solar. A 200-amp upgrade costs $1,500–$4,000 in Boston. Newer construction (post-2000) typically already has 200-amp panels.
We will assess your specific roof, neighborhood, and Eversource rate to show you exactly what solar costs and saves for your Boston home.
Statewide costs, incentives, and payback for all Massachusetts homeowners.
Read moreEarn $225–$3,250/yr from your battery through Eversource or National Grid demand response.
Read moreCompare utility rates, net metering, and ConnectedSolutions payouts across MA utilities.
Read moreWhich financing path is best in 2026 with no federal credit? Compare ownership vs third-party.
Read moreSolar loan options at 5.5-8% APR — compare cash, loan, PPA, and lease in MA 2026.
Read more20-year property tax exemption, 6.25% sales tax exemption, and $1,000 state credit.
Read moreCompare utility rates and solar savings across Massachusetts utilities.
Read moreDo you need a panel upgrade? Cost, timeline, and SPAN smart panel alternative.
Read moreGoing beyond solar? See heat pump costs, rebates, and 0% financing options.
Read morePricing: EnergySage Solar Marketplace (January 2026), NuWatt Energy Boston installations.
Utility rates: Eversource R-1/R-2 tariff schedule, effective January 2026.
Permitting: Boston ISD solar permit requirements, Boston Landmarks Commission guidelines.
Neighborhood data: NuWatt installation records and Boston property assessment data.