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California solar cancellation rights

3 business days for door-to-door/home-solicitation solar sales under the California Home Solicitation Sales Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1689.5–1689.12), plus the FTC Cooling-Off Rule (16 CFR Part 429, 3 business days, sales ≥$25 away from seller's premises). EXTENDED to 5 business days for buyers age 65+ on home-improvement contracts not negotiated at the contractor's place of business (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159), stated on the CSLB Solar Energy System Disclosure Document required on the front page of every residential solar contract (B&P § 7169). If required cancellation notice is missing, the right may extend indefinitely.

The law

  • Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1689.5–1689.12 (Home Solicitation Sales Act)
  • Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159 (5-business-day right for buyers 65+ on home-improvement contracts)
  • Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7169 (CSLB Solar Energy System Disclosure Document requirement)
  • Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1770 et seq. (Consumer Legal Remedies Act — deceptive solar sales practices)
  • FTC Cooling-Off Rule, 16 CFR Part 429

Protections for buyers 65+

Buyers 65+ get 5 business days to cancel home-improvement/solar contracts not negotiated at the contractor's place of business (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159); CSLB disclosure document must include the 5-day notice.

Contract notes

CSLB disclosure document must be the front/cover page of every residential solar contract and state the TOTAL cost (system + financing + energy/PPA cost). All residential solar installers must hold a CSLB license; an unlicensed installer can give grounds to void the contract.

Enforcement watch: No AG consumer-enforcement action on residential solar sales located for 2024–2026. (Note: AG Bonta joined the multistate coalition suing EPA in Oct 2025 over termination of the $7B Solar for All program — a federal-funding dispute, not a residential-sales enforcement action.)

What to do next in California

  1. Check your deadline today. California gives you: 3 business days for door-to-door/home-solicitation solar sales under the California Home Solicitation Sales Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1689.5–1689.12), plus the FTC Cooling-Off Rule (16 CFR Part 429, 3 business days, sales ≥$25 away from seller's premises). EXTENDED to 5 business days for buyers age 65+ on home-improvement contracts not negotiated at the contractor's place of business (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7159), stated on the CSLB Solar Energy System Disclosure Document required on the front page of every residential solar contract (B&P § 7169). If required cancellation notice is missing, the right may extend indefinitely.
  2. Send written notice before it expires. Certified mail, return receipt. Keep a copy of everything.
  3. Don't let them talk you out of it. "Wait and see" is how windows close. You can always re-sign later.
Get the notice written for you. The $39 SolarEscape Kit generates a cancellation letter citing Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1689.5–1689.12 (Home Solicitation Sales Act), with your dates filled in — plus the complaint kit and bankrupt-installer playbook.
Not legal advice. This tool provides general information based on state statutes and the FTC Cooling-Off Rule as of October 2026. Laws change and every contract is different. For advice about your specific situation, talk to a consumer attorney or your state attorney general's office. We can't promise you can cancel — nobody can. What we do: tell you where the cancellation windows are, and what to do when they're closed.

Sources: cslb.ca.gov, codes.findlaw.com, cal.lawsoup.org · Verified 2026-10-10