Signed at your home in the last few days? Federal law gives you 3 business days to cancel most at-home sales. Get the free letter
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Federal law, all 50 states
The FTC Cooling-Off Rule and solar contracts
How the federal three-day rule applies to solar sales made at your home, what sellers must give you, and how to use it.
Last verified October 9, 2026
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The short answer: The FTC Cooling-Off Rule, 16 CFR Part 429, gives you three business days to cancel covered sales of $25 or more made at your home, and $130 or more at other temporary locations. Business days exclude only Sundays and federal holidays. The seller must give you a receipt or contract with a statement of your right to cancel, two copies of a Notice of Cancellation form and an oral explanation of your right, and must honor a valid cancellation within 10 business days.
Key takeaways
- Three business days to cancel covered sales.
- Saturdays count; Sundays and federal holidays don't.
- Sales made after you invited the seller can still be covered.
- Sellers must give written and oral notice of the right.
- Some states give more time or stronger rights.
On this page
What the rule covers
The rule covers sales where the seller personally solicits the sale and the contract is made somewhere other than the seller’s permanent place of business, like your kitchen table, a fair booth or a hotel room. The federal definition includes sales made in response to or following an invitation by the buyer, so booking the appointment yourself doesn’t automatically take you outside it.
What the seller must give you
- A receipt or copy of the contract, in the same language as the oral sales presentation, with a statement of your right to cancel.
- Two copies of a Notice of Cancellation form you can use to cancel.
- An oral explanation of your right to cancel.
- No misrepresentation of your right to cancel.
What happens after you cancel
- Within 10 business days, the seller must refund your payments, return any trade-in and cancel any security interest.
- Within 10 business days, the seller must tell you whether it will pick up or abandon anything it delivered.
- You must make delivered goods available in substantially the same condition.
- If the seller doesn't pick them up within 20 days after your notice, you may generally keep them.
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What the rule excludes
- Sales at the seller's permanent place of business.
- Transactions that already carry a federal Truth in Lending right of rescission.
- Sales made entirely by mail or phone with no personal contact before delivery.
- Buyer-initiated emergency repairs with a signed waiver.
- Real estate, insurance and certain securities sales.
When state law gives you more
The federal rule is a floor. Texas gives five business days for residential solar contracts. California gives seniors 65 and older five business days. Ohio keeps the right to cancel open until the seller provides the required notices. Check your state.
Common questions
Cooling-Off Rule FAQs
How long do I have to cancel a solar contract?
Three business days under the federal rule for covered sales, and longer in some states.
Does the rule apply if I invited the salesperson?
It can. The federal definition includes sales made following an invitation by the buyer.
Do I need a reason to cancel?
No. Sign and send the Notice of Cancellation, or your own written notice.
How fast must the seller refund me?
Within 10 business days after receiving a valid cancellation.
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Solar Cancellation HQ is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is general information, and reading it or submitting a form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Not every contract qualifies, and no outcome is guaranteed. We never advise anyone to stop making payments on a solar loan, lease or PPA. Laws and utility rules change, so verify before acting. Last verified October 9, 2026.