Solar Energy Directory

Solar Installation Permitting Requirements

State-by-state guide to solar installation permits, requirements, and processes

General Information

Solar installation permits are typically required at both state and local levels. Requirements can vary significantly between jurisdictions, but generally include electrical permits, building permits, and utility interconnection agreements.

Common Requirements

  • • Electrical permits
  • • Building permits
  • • Structural analysis
  • • Site plans

Typical Timeline

  • • Application: 1-2 days
  • • Review: 1-3 weeks
  • • Inspection: 1-2 days
  • • Final approval: 1 week

Cost Factors

  • • Permit fees
  • • Inspection fees
  • • Plan review fees
  • • Professional services

Alabama

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Zoning Compliance
  • Utility Interconnection Agreement

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

In-person or online submission

Alaska

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Cold Climate Certification
  • Structural Assessment

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-900

Submission Process

Online submission available

Arizona

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Heat Load Analysis
  • HOA Approval (if applicable)

Timeline

1-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,000

Submission Process

Online submission preferred

Arkansas

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • Utility Agreement

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-700

Submission Process

In-person submission required

California

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Fire Department Review
  • Title 24 Compliance
  • HOA Approval (if applicable)

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$500-1,500

Submission Process

Online submission available

Colorado

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Snow Load Analysis
  • HOA Approval (if applicable)

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,000

Submission Process

Online submission available

Connecticut

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Zoning Approval
  • Historic District Review (if applicable)

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-900

Submission Process

In-person or online submission

Delaware

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Coastal Zone Compliance (if applicable)
  • Utility Interconnection Agreement

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

Online submission preferred

Florida

Requirements

  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Load Certification
  • Hurricane Rating Compliance
  • Local Building Code Review

Timeline

2-5 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,200

Submission Process

Electronic plan submission

Georgia

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • HOA Approval (if applicable)

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$350-900

Submission Process

Online or in-person submission

Hawaii

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Rating Certification
  • County-Specific Requirements

Timeline

3-6 weeks

Typical Fees

$500-1,200

Submission Process

Electronic submission required

Idaho

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Snow Load Analysis
  • Local Zoning Compliance

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-700

Submission Process

In-person or online submission

Illinois

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • Utility Interconnection Agreement

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,000

Submission Process

Varies by municipality

Indiana

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Zoning Compliance
  • Utility Agreement

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

In-person or online submission

Iowa

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • Utility Interconnection Agreement

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-700

Submission Process

Varies by municipality

Kansas

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-700

Submission Process

In-person or online submission

Kentucky

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • Utility Agreement

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

Varies by county

Louisiana

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Load Certification
  • Flood Zone Compliance

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$350-900

Submission Process

Online or in-person submission

Maine

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Snow Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

In-person or online submission

Maryland

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • HOA Approval (if applicable)

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,000

Submission Process

Online submission available

Massachusetts

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Snow Load Analysis
  • Historic District Review (if applicable)

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,200

Submission Process

Online submission preferred

Michigan

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Snow Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$350-900

Submission Process

Varies by municipality

Minnesota

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Snow Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,000

Submission Process

Online submission available

Mississippi

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Load Certification
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

In-person submission required

Missouri

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • Utility Agreement

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

Varies by municipality

Montana

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Snow Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-700

Submission Process

In-person or online submission

Nebraska

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-700

Submission Process

Varies by municipality

Nevada

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,000

Submission Process

Online submission available

New Hampshire

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Snow Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

In-person or online submission

New Jersey

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • HOA Approval (if applicable)

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$500-1,200

Submission Process

Online submission preferred

New Mexico

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

Online or in-person submission

New York

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Snow Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance
  • Historic District Review (if applicable)

Timeline

3-6 weeks

Typical Fees

$500-1,500

Submission Process

Varies by municipality

North Carolina

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Load Certification
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,000

Submission Process

Online submission available

North Dakota

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Snow Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-700

Submission Process

In-person or online submission

Ohio

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • Utility Agreement

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,000

Submission Process

Varies by municipality

Oklahoma

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

In-person or online submission

Oregon

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • Utility Interconnection Agreement

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,000

Submission Process

Online submission preferred

Pennsylvania

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Snow Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,000

Submission Process

Varies by municipality

Rhode Island

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • Historic District Review (if applicable)

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

Online submission available

South Carolina

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Load Certification
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$350-900

Submission Process

Online or in-person submission

South Dakota

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-700

Submission Process

In-person or online submission

Tennessee

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • Utility Agreement

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$350-900

Submission Process

Varies by municipality

Texas

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance
  • HOA Approval (if applicable)

Timeline

1-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

Online submission available

Utah

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • HOA Approval (if applicable)

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$350-900

Submission Process

Online submission preferred

Vermont

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Snow Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

In-person or online submission

Virginia

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • HOA Approval (if applicable)

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,000

Submission Process

Online submission available

Washington

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • Utility Interconnection Agreement

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$400-1,000

Submission Process

Online submission preferred

West Virginia

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Local Code Compliance
  • Utility Agreement

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-800

Submission Process

In-person or online submission

Wisconsin

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Snow Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-4 weeks

Typical Fees

$350-900

Submission Process

Varies by municipality

Wyoming

Requirements

  • Electrical Permit Required
  • Building Permit Required
  • Wind Load Analysis
  • Local Code Compliance

Timeline

2-3 weeks

Typical Fees

$300-700

Submission Process

In-person or online submission