Nottinghamshire officers discovered the haul after executing two warrants.
Around 600 cannabis plants were found inside both houses. Police say the electricity mains supply on the street had been cut into to provide lighting for the plants.
Electricity workers later had to dig up part of the road to repair tampering with the supply.
PC Kirstie Packwood, beat manager for the Lenton triangle, said: “We have been investigating the growing of cannabis in the Lenton area for some time and today’s raids at two addresses were the culmination of that investigation.
“It is a large amount of cannabis to find and we are delighted to have discovered the plants before they ended up being sold on the streets of Nottingham. We estimate they are worth in the region of £250,000. They will now be destroyed.
A 40-year-old man was arrested at the scene and was later charged with production of cannabis. Hung Van Tran, of no fixed abode, appeared before Nottingham magistrates and was remanded in custody.