Switching to renewable energy is a top priority for many homeowners and organizations, but the shift to solar often requires major construction and the tedious process of obtaining a solar permit.
Understanding the process of getting a solar permit is crucial for compliance and effective project management. This article provides an in-depth guide on everything you need to know about the solar permitting process.
What is a solar permit?
A solar permit is a document issued by local municipalities allowing individuals or businesses to install solar panels and PV systems. Solar permits are required in many jurisdictions to ensure solar installations meet local and federal building codes and safety standards.
Why do you need a permit for solar?
Solar permits exist for the same reason buildings permits (or really any permits!) exist: To confirm the system is safe and compliant with local codes. Solar permits protect homeowners, business owners, and the electrical grid.
Solar permit requirements
Solar permit requirements vary significantly by jurisdiction, but most installations require several key approvals to proceed legally. Most projects will require at least one of the following:
- Building permit: Required to verify structural integrity and ensure the installation complies with local building codes and zoning laws. This includes assessment of roof load capacity, mounting systems, and overall design specifications.
- Electrical permit: Covers all electrical components and wiring to confirm compliance with National Electrical Code (NEC) guidelines.
- Dedicated solar permit: Many jurisdictions now offer streamlined permits specifically for solar installations, sometimes called a PV permit. These comprehensive permits often combine building and electrical requirements into a single approval process, simplifying documentation for installers.
- Grid connection approval: Required for grid-tied systems to ensure safe interconnection with existing electrical infrastructure. This approval typically involves the utility company reviewing inverter specifications, disconnect locations, and system size.
Remember, solar permits vary depending on your local jurisdiction. If you’re looking for the exact requirements for your projects, you’ll need to connect with your local government to identify the requirements.
Commercial solar permit requirements
Commercial solar permit requirements are more extensive than those for residential dwellings.
Potential requirements may include:
- Single-line diagrams with PE (professional engineer) stamps
- Land use review
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permission
Solar permit costs
Expect to pay between $150 and $400 in solar permit fees for projects under 10 kilowatts.
That said, the cost of a solar permit varies widely across jurisdictions. Solar permit costs are generally calculated based on the size of the system. Residential solar permits are usually cheaper than commercial solar permits.
Some states have set limits on solar permitting costs to encourage renewable energy use:
- Colorado: The Fair Permit Act caps permitting fees at $500 for residential solar projects and $1,000 for commercial solar panel installations.
- California: California limits the total cost of residential and commercial solar permits.
- Residential projects of 15 kW or less: $450
- Residential projects over 15 kW: $450 + $15 per kW over 15
- Commercial projects 50 kW or less: $1,000
- Commercial projects between 50 and 250 kW: $1,000 + $7 per kW above 50
- Commercial projects above 250 kW: $2,400 + $5 per kW over 250 kW
Overall, solar permits and associated fees (like a fee for interconnection) typically account for roughly 8% of the total cost of solar installation.
The solar permitting process
Don't let permit delays derail your installation timeline. Breaking down the solar permitting process into clear phases helps keep projects moving forward efficiently. Here's your roadmap to navigating permit approvals successfully:
Initial project assessment
A thorough initial assessment lays the groundwork for a successful application and streamlined installation. This crucial first phase involves comprehensive site evaluation and preliminary planning.
Key project assessment components include:
- Site analysis: Evaluate roof condition, structural integrity, and available mounting space. For ground installations, assess soil conditions and terrain characteristics.
- Solar access study: Document shade patterns, sun exposure hours, and potential obstructions that could impact system performance.
- Electrical infrastructure: Review existing electrical service capacity, panel locations, and potential interconnection points.
- Jurisdiction requirements: Research local building codes, zoning restrictions, and specific solar installation requirements that will impact permit applications.
Prepare your application
Thoughtfully preparing required documentation helps avoid costly revision cycles and expedites permit approval.
Essential solar permit application components typically include:
- Technical documentation: Detailed site plans, single-line electrical diagrams, and structural calculations
- Equipment specifications: Manufacturer datasheets for panels, inverters, and mounting systems
- Project narratives: Clear descriptions of installation methods and safety measures
- Supporting documents: Property records, contractor licenses, and insurance certificates
Pro tip: Using PermitFlow helps organize these documents in a central location, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks during submission.
Application review period
The review timeline varies significantly based on jurisdiction workload and project complexity.
Typical solar permit timelines:
- Residential projects: 2-6 weeks for standard installations
- Commercial projects: 1-3 months, depending on system size and complexity
- Large-scale systems: 3+ months, often requiring additional environmental or utility reviews
Stay proactive during this phase by monitoring your application status regularly. Respond promptly to reviewer questions and document all communication with permit officials.
Pro tip: Using permit software like PermitFlow helps you keep track of important communications and prevent any potential delays
Permit approval and inspections
The inspection phase requires careful coordination between installation teams and local officials.
Key inspection considerations:
- Pre-installation check: Verify all permit conditions before beginning work
- Progress inspections: Schedule required inspections at critical installation phases
- Final inspection: Prepare detailed checklist of requirements for final approval
- Documentation: Maintain organized records of all inspection reports and correspondence
How much does a solar panel inspection cost?
Inspection costs vary widely based on jurisdiction and project scope, but they typically represent a small portion of the overall permitting budget. Here's what solar installation companies should plan for:
Residential inspections
- Basic inspection fees: $200-400 for standard rooftop installations
- Re-inspection fees: $100-150 if corrections are needed
- Express inspection services (where available): Additional $150-300 for expedited timing
Commercial inspections
- Base inspection fees: $500-1,500, scaling with system size
- Progress inspection costs: $200-400 per visit for larger installations requiring multiple inspections
- Third-party inspection services: $800-2,000 for complex projects requiring specialized expertise
Potential solar permit challenges
Even seasoned solar installers hit permitting roadblocks that can threaten project timelines and strain customer relationships. Here's how to tackle three major challenges that frequently derail solar permit applications:
HOA and multi-unit property restrictions
Homeowners' Associations often present significant hurdles for residential solar installations. While many HOAs have outdated or overly restrictive solar policies, most states now have solar access laws that protect homeowners' rights to install solar panels.
If you’re facing HOA resistance, review state solar rights legislation first—these laws typically override HOA restrictions and can help expedite approval.
Historical buildings
Installing solar on historical properties requires carefully navigating preservation requirements. Success often depends on creative design solutions that maintain historical integrity while achieving energy goals.
Consider these approaches:
- Low-profile mounting systems that minimize visual impact
- Solar shingles or other building-integrated PV products that blend with historical aesthetics
- Strategic panel placement on non-visible roof sections
- Custom conduit routing to preserve architectural features
Commercial solar farm zoning
Large-scale solar installations frequently encounter zoning resistance, particularly on agricultural land.
If you permit was denied for a commercial project, try these solutions:
- Partner with experienced land use attorneys to review local ordinances thoroughly
- Commission detailed environmental impact studies to address specific concerns
- Develop comprehensive wildlife protection plans
- Consider alternative sites within the same utility service area
- Present economic benefit studies to local planning boards
How to streamline the solar permitting process
A universal truth in the construction industry is that the permit process is unnecessarily complicated and confusing. This is partly because there’s no uniform permitting experience, and partly because permit requirements always depend on your unique project and jurisdiction.
Here are a few ways you can streamline the solar permitting process:
Work with industry experts
While the solar industry isn’t new, the work that goes into solar is unique to this industry. Solar installation isn’t a DIY project; it requires consultants with extensive experience to navigate complex solar permit regulations.
Solar permit services can also help you identify common hurdles within the process and help to create an efficient permitting process and avoid common pitfalls.
Leverage permitting technology
Taking advantage of new software can help streamline the permitting process (even beyond solar). Permitting software like PermitFlow helps streamline the solar permit process by organizing and tracking all necessary documents and approvals in one place.
Permitting technology helps reduce potential delays when it comes to the permit approval process or inspections. With features like reminders, progress tracking, and communication portals, PermitFlow provides a central database for your permit applications.
Standardize and maintain proactive communication
One challenge of working on a large team is consistent communication. Establish proactive forms of communication and maintain those processes.
To avoid communication breakdowns, consider consolidating all project communications in one central location, such as a permitting software like PermitFlow. This will help to document communications and create a source of truth for every member on your team, so everyone can quickly understand a permit’s status at a glance.
Navigating the solar permit process
Adopting the hardware for solar energy is the first step towards a greener future. This is why it’s essential to create an efficient permitting process so you can streamline processes, work with solar experts, and leverage the right technology to implement solar systems.
By efficiently managing the solar permit process, your team can quickly navigate the necessary steps to bring your solar project to life.
Want to streamline your solar permit process? Talk to one of our permitting experts at PermitFlow today.
