Solar Panel Permit Rules for Homeowners

Fast-Track Size Limits

Seattle issues systems up to 12 kW through a streamlined over-the-counter electrical permit. Chicago allows Express Permits up to 13.44 kW inverter output, with drawings by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer. Larger systems in both cities go through plan review.

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

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

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

Who Must Be Involved

New York City requires a DOB work permit, a licensed contractor and a Registered Design Professional for all solar work; only solar landscape lights are exempt. Orlando reviews systems with a Solar Plan Review Checklist and permits the electrical work as "New Solar". Austin requires a residential building permit inside city limits. Nashville lists solar panels among work requiring a residential building permit, and in Raleigh new electrical wiring is excluded from North Carolina's $40,000 exemption.

What the Permit Protects

Your utility will normally want a final permit inspection before it allows the system to export power. A permit record also matters when you sell: buyers and appraisers can look it up, as explained in How to Look Up Building Permits for a House.

Solar Permit Pages by City

See Chicago Solar Panel Permits, New York Solar Panel Permits and Austin Solar Panel Permits, or Solar Panel Permits by City.

The Solar Permit Process Step by Step

1. Site assessment and design. The installer checks roof condition, structure and electrical panel capacity.
2. Permit application. Usually electrical and often structural or building review; drawings are typically required.
3. Utility interconnection application. Filed with your electric utility, often in parallel.
4. Installation and inspections. The city inspects the installation; the utility may also inspect.
5. Permission to operate. Only after the utility approves should the system be switched on.

The U.S. Department of Energy's homeowner's guide to going solar recommends asking installers to handle permits and interconnection and to explain each step.

Automated Solar Permitting

SolarAPP+, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, lets participating jurisdictions issue permits for standard residential rooftop systems through an automated compliance check. Whether it is available depends on whether your city has adopted it. If your roof is old, consider replacing it before solar goes on; a re-roof later means removing and reinstalling the panels, which may need its own permit. For typical timelines see How Long Does a Building Permit Take? Real Timelines from 10 Cities.

Frequently Asked Questions