Solar Panel Permit Rules for Homeowners

Quick Facts

From our city pages and each city's open permit data (refreshed October 30, 2026).

Three Approvals, Not One

A rooftop system usually needs three separate approvals: the local permit (building, electrical or both), a passed inspection, and the utility's interconnection approval. The Department of Energy notes that installation itself generally takes only a few days, while permits and inspections can take weeks to months. Ask your installer which of the three is holding things up if a project stalls.

City-By-City Solar Panel Permit Rules

These summaries come from the same official sources as our city pages and were last checked October 30, 2026. Permit counts are the city's own open-data records for the last 12 months.

Chicago: Yes

New small rooftop solar systems up to 13.44 kW inverter output can use Chicago's Express Permit Program, with drawings and calculations from an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer. Larger systems, roofs over 40 feet and some ballasted systems need a standard permit.

• Express Permit limit: 13.44 kW inverter output.
• Drawings and calculations by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer are required.
• Associated battery storage is generally limited to 20 kWh under the Express route.
• Chicago issued 1,615 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 10 days from application to issue.

Source: Chicago DOB Express Permit Program: Small-Scale Solar PV System · Full details: Chicago Solar Panel Permits

New York: Yes

No solar work can be done in New York City without a DOB work permit, a licensed contractor and a Registered Design Professional. Only solar landscape lights are exempt.

• A DOB work permit is required for every solar energy system.
• A licensed contractor and a Registered Design Professional are required.
• Solar landscape lights are the only exemption.
• New York issued 5,493 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 5 days from application to issue.

Source: NYC DOB: Project Requirements for Owner – Solar System

Austin: Yes

Solar panels or solar shingles inside Austin city limits that interconnect to Austin Energy need a residential building permit. Systems in the ETJ use a separate auxiliary permit through the AB+C portal.

• Inside city limits: residential building permit.
• In the ETJ: separate solar permit through the AB+C portal.
• Interconnection with Austin Energy is part of the process.
• Austin issued 660 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 9 days from application to issue.

Source: Austin DSD: Types of Permits · Full details: Austin Solar Panel Permits

Orlando: Yes

Orlando reviews residential solar with a Solar Plan Review Checklist, and the electrical work is permitted as 'New Solar' on the Electrical Permit Application.

• Electrical permit ('New Solar').
• Solar Plan Review Checklist applies.
• Contractors must hold a Florida license and be registered with the City.
• Orlando issued 176 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 14 days from application to issue.

Source: City of Orlando: Permitting Checklists · Full details: Orlando Solar Panel Permits

Raleigh: Yes

Solar adds electrical wiring and equipment, which North Carolina excludes from the $40,000 permit exemption, so a rooftop solar system in Raleigh needs a permit.

• New electrical wiring and equipment are excluded from the exemption.
• Licensed electrical contractors must be named.
• Roof-mounted arrays may need structural review.
• Raleigh issued 11 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 11 days from application to issue.

Source: N.C. General Statute 160D-1110 · Full details: Raleigh Solar Panel Permits

San Francisco: Electrical Permit

A small residential rooftop solar system on a building that isn't a designated landmark is exempt from a building permit in San Francisco, but an electrical or other permit may still be required. Registered contractors can apply for solar photovoltaic permits online.

• Small residential rooftop solar on non-landmark buildings: no building permit.
• An electrical permit or other permit may be required depending on the system.
• Solar PV permits can be issued online to registered contractors.
• San Francisco issued 423 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 41 days from application to issue.

Source: SF.gov: Check if your construction project needs a permit · Full details: San Francisco Solar Panel Permits

New Orleans: Yes

Rooftop solar in New Orleans is permitted as an electrical permit, which only a contractor with a Class A City of New Orleans electrical license can obtain. Since March 1, 2025, applications need an approved SolarAPP+ plan review.

• Rooftop solar is classified as an electrical permit.
• Only Class A city-licensed electrical contractors can apply.
• An approved SolarAPP+ plan review PDF is required (since March 1, 2025).
• Official fees: Electrical (solar) permit: $40 + $3 per new circuit + $0.30 per service amp.
• New Orleans issued 244 matching permits in the last 12 months, with a median of 25 days from application to issue.

Source: City of New Orleans: Solar Permitting · Full details: New Orleans Solar Panel Permits

Pittsburgh: Yes

Roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar arrays need a residential electrical permit from PLI, plus a Zoning Development Review. Roof-mounted installs are limited to buildings with a valid certificate of occupancy.

• Solar PV arrays are an electrical permit work scope.
• Solar PV arrays also need a Zoning Development Review.
• Roof-mounted arrays need a building with a valid certificate of occupancy.
• Pittsburgh issued 300 matching permits in the last 12 months.

Source: Pittsburgh PLI: Residential Electrical Permit · Full details: Pittsburgh Solar Panel Permits

Step-by-Step: What to Do

1. Check your roof's condition and age before signing; replace it first if needed.
2. Confirm your installer holds the license your city requires (NYC, New Orleans and others require a licensed contractor).
3. Your installer applies for the permit; ask for the permit number.
4. Installation, then the city inspection.
5. Apply for, or let the installer submit, utility interconnection; do not switch the system on until the utility gives permission.

Automated Permits With SolarAPP+

SolarAPP+ is an online tool funded by the Department of Energy that checks standard residential solar designs automatically. New Orleans requires an approved SolarAPP+ review for solar electrical permits applied for since March 1, 2025. Where a city uses it, a code-compliant design can be approved without waiting for a plan reviewer.

Roof Condition and Structural Review

Chicago's Express Permit requires drawings and calculations by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer, and sends roofs over 40 feet and some ballasted systems to standard review. Pittsburgh only allows roof-mounted systems on buildings with a valid certificate of occupancy. If your roof is near the end of its life, the Department of Energy notes it can save money to replace it before installing; see Roof Replacement Permit Rules in 13 US Cities for that permit.

Permit Pages and Related Guides

Compare all solar cities on Solar Panel Permits by City, see a busy example on New York Solar Panel Permits, and read How Long Does a Building Permit Take? Real Timelines from 12 Cities for what drives review times.

Frequently Asked Questions