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Plug & play solar kit: Is it legal? Declaration, insurance and co-ownership
Yes, a solar kit that plugs into a socket is completely legal in France. There is one formality — just one — free of charge and online: the CACSI declaration with Enedis, completed in ten minutes. Here is the step-by-step procedure, with answers for every situation: tenants, co-ownership, town halls and insurance.
The short answer
A plug & play kit is legal provided that: 1) you declare it to Enedis via the CACSI (free of charge, online), 2) the equipment complies with the requirements (as is the case with all our kits, tested and certified at the factory), 3) you remain within the simplified scheme: 800 W maximum injection power per dwelling, for all kits combined. No Consuel, no grid connection application, and in most cases no town hall procedure.
The CACSI: what it is and why it exists
CACSI stands for “Convention d'Autoconsommation Sans Injection” (self-consumption agreement without injection). Behind this administrative name is a simple idea: you notify Enedis that a production source exists at your property and that you consume this electricity yourself, without selling it. This is an informational declaration — Enedis does not inspect your installation, charges nothing and cannot refuse a compliant kit. It serves two purposes: grid safety (knowing where production sources are located) and your own protection — it is the official document proving that your installation complies, which your insurer or property manager may ask you to provide.
Declare your kit in 5 steps (10 minutes)
1. Go to the Enedis connection portal (mon-raccordement-electricite.enedis.fr) and create an account with your email address.
2. Choose the “self-consumption without injection” process for a small-scale installation.
3. Enter the installation details: address, solar panel and inverter power (these values are shown on your kit datasheet — for an 800 W kit, the injection power is that of the microinverter), and your meter number.
4. If you have several kits, declare the combined power in a single CACSI — not one declaration per kit.
5. Confirm. You will receive the agreement by email: keep it safe, as it is your proof of compliance.
Special case: approximately 150 municipalities (Strasbourg, Grenoble and others) are served by a local electricity network operator rather than Enedis — the procedure is equivalent and must be completed with your local operator. The operator's name appears on your electricity bill.
What if I do not declare it?
There will not be a police officer at your door — but there is a genuine risk at the worst possible time: in the event of an electrical incident, your insurer may cite the absence of a declaration to reduce or refuse compensation. Ten minutes of paperwork in exchange for cover for your home: the choice is easy. Enedis may also require a detected installation to be brought into compliance.
Tenant: yes, and the kit moves with you
A kit placed on the ground, on a terrace or on a balcony does not alter the property: you do not need your landlord's permission, any more than you would to plug in a household appliance. Only a mounting system that drills into or modifies the façade requires written permission. On moving day, the kit goes with you — simply notify Enedis that the CACSI for the old address is no longer valid, then submit a new declaration (free of charge) for the new address.
Co-ownership: private areas or common areas, this is what matters
The rule is simple. Placed on the floor of your balcony or terrace and facing into your private space: this is private use and no permission is required. Attached to the railing or visible on the façade: the exterior appearance of the building is affected, and approval from the general meeting may be required — check your co-ownership regulations, as some specifically address this issue.
Useful practical point: the CACSI and co-ownership approval are two independent procedures. You can declare the installation to Enedis without waiting for the general meeting — and withdraw the declaration free of charge if the co-owners refuse installation on the façade.
Town hall: rarely, except in protected areas
For a kit placed on the ground, on a balcony or on a terrace without modifying the exterior appearance of the building: in the vast majority of cases, no town hall procedure is required. There are two exceptions to know about: an installation that visibly modifies the façade or roof, and protected areas (the surroundings of a listed historic monument, a classified site or an ABF sector), where prior approval is generally required. If in doubt, a call to your town hall's planning department will settle the matter in five minutes.
Insurance: one email is enough
Notify your home insurer, ideally attaching the CACSI agreement, and include the wording “addition of a photovoltaic installation to my policy”. In most policies, a declared and compliant plug & play kit is covered without an additional premium. This simple email turns your kit from a blind spot into insured equipment — together with the CACSI, it is the only real paperwork involved in the entire project.
Summary: your 4-point checklist
| Procedure | Mandatory? | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| CACSI declaration (Enedis or local operator) | Yes | 10 min online | Free of charge |
| Email to home insurer | Strongly recommended | 2 min | Free of charge, generally with no additional premium |
| Co-ownership approval | Only if the mounting system is visible on the façade | Variable (general meeting) | Free of charge |
| Town hall procedure | Only in protected areas / for façade modifications | Variable | Free of charge |
And that's all. Compare this with a roof-mounted installation — prior declaration, grid connection and Consuel — and you will understand why plug & play is the gateway to solar power: most of the administrative work has simply disappeared. For everything else (choosing your kit, its location and the battery), see our complete plug & play guide.
The paperwork takes 10 minutes. So does installing the kit.
Choose my plug & play kit 04 49 42 00 99Frequently asked questions
Do I need to declare even a small 400 W kit?
Yes: as soon as a production source is connected to your electrical installation, a declaration is required, whatever the power rating. It is free of charge and the same for all kit sizes — so you might as well comply from the very first solar panel.
Is a Consuel certificate required for a plug & play kit?
No. Pre-assembled and factory-tested kits connected to an existing socket do not require a Consuel certificate — this is one of the major differences compared with a roof-mounted installation.
I have two kits: one declaration or two?
Just one: declare the combined power of all the kits in the same CACSI. Simply make sure you remain below 800 W of total injection to stay within the simplified scheme — above that level, your project falls under a conventional, fully dimensioned installation.
My property manager is asking for proof: what should I provide?
The CACSI agreement received from Enedis: it is the official proof that your installation has been declared and is known to the grid operator. Add the kit's compliance sheet (CE certificate) if requested — the two documents are sufficient.
Can I sell the surplus from my plug & play kit?
No — the plug & play scheme is, by definition, “without compensated injection”: any surplus is sent to the grid without compensation. If selling surplus interests you, that means a complete installation with an EDF OA contract; however, since the 2026 reform, surplus electricity sells for 1.1 centimes per kWh — the real priority is elsewhere: consuming your own production, if necessary with a small battery.
Procedure and thresholds verified in July 2026 (CACSI declaration via the Enedis connection portal; approximately 150 municipalities are served by a local operator). Local planning rules and co-ownership regulations may contain specific provisions — if in doubt, check with your town hall or property manager. Article updated in July 2026.
