What's available for solar in Halifax
We checked Efficiency Nova Scotia and the Halifax Regional Municipality's Solar City pages on October 3, 2026.
Halifax Solar City
Financing, not a rebate. HRM pays your contractor when the work is done, and you repay through a Local Improvement Charge on your property.
SolarHomes rebate
Closed to homeowners on April 17, 2025. It is still open to non-profits and charities.
Home battery rebate
We found no current Efficiency Nova Scotia rebate for home batteries.
What 4.75% over 10 years means
Solar City spreads the cost of a system over 10 years at a fixed rate, so you don't need the cash up front. You pay interest, so the system costs more in total than paying cash. The question is whether the power you save each year covers the yearly charge. Ask your installer for a production estimate and compare it with what you pay Nova Scotia Power.
How Solar City works
Solar City is run by the Halifax Regional Municipality. When your installation is finished, the city pays the contractor directly. You then repay the cost through a Local Improvement Charge, billed separately from your regular property taxes, at a fixed 4.75% over 10 years.
The charge is tied to the property, not to you. If you sell, you can pay off what is left or, if you and the buyer both agree, pass the balance on to them. You can also pay it off in full at any time without a penalty.
It covers more than solar panels. Solar City finances solar electric (PV) systems, solar hot water and solar hot air. It is open to homeowners, non-profits, charities, housing co-operatives and places of worship in the municipality.
Does solar pay in Halifax?
The case for solar here comes from the price of power. Nova Scotia Power charges 19.128 cents per kWh plus a $20.08 monthly base charge. Each kWh your panels make is one you don't buy at that rate. The base charge stays the same whatever you produce.
Without a rebate, the payback depends on your roof, its direction and shading, and the quote you get. Get at least two written quotes with a production estimate in kWh per year, not just a panel count. A system that faces south with no shade will make the most.
Who in Halifax can use it
Solar City needs a property owner, because the charge is attached to the property. That leaves out a large share of Halifax: Statistics Canada's 2021 Census found that 42% of the municipality's 190,510 households rent. About 48% of households live in single-detached houses, which are the easiest to put panels on. Condo and apartment owners would need their building's agreement.
If solar isn't right for your home, the bigger savings in Halifax often come from cutting heating costs. See our heat pump rebates in Halifax page, where Efficiency Nova Scotia pays $300 to $600 per ton.
How to use Solar City in Halifax
- Read the Solar City program details and property owner guide on halifax.ca.
- Get at least two quotes with a yearly production estimate.
- Apply to Solar City before work starts, following HRM's steps.
- When the install is done, HRM pays the contractor and your Local Improvement Charge begins.
- Keep the paperwork. You'll need it if you sell or want to pay off early.
Common questions
Is there a solar rebate in Halifax in 2026?
No. The provincial SolarHomes rebate closed to homeowners on April 17, 2025. Halifax offers Solar City financing instead.
What is the interest rate for Halifax Solar City?
A fixed 4.75% over 10 years, repaid through a Local Improvement Charge on your property.
What happens to the Solar City charge if I sell my house?
You can pay off the balance, or transfer it to the buyer if you both agree. You can also pay it off early at any time without a penalty.
Does Solar City cover solar hot water?
Yes. It covers solar electric (PV), solar hot water and solar hot air systems.
Is there a battery rebate in Nova Scotia?
We found no current Efficiency Nova Scotia rebate for home batteries.
What to do next
See every Halifax rebate, or the full list of Efficiency Nova Scotia programs.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 5, 2026: Halifax: About Solar City, Halifax: Solar City property owner guide, Efficiency Nova Scotia: SolarHomes, Nova Scotia Power residential rate, Statistics Canada, 2021 Census table 98-10-0233-01. All Halifax rebates → Every Efficiency Nova Scotia rebate →