Do You Need a Solar Panel Permit in Raleigh?

Short answer
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.

Source: N.C. General Statute 160D-1110

An installer fixing a black solar panel to a shingled roof
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Raleigh Solar Panel Permits at a Glance

Permits, last 12 months
11
Issued, last 30 days
0
Median application to issue
11 days
Median permit fee paid
$392
Issuing office
City of Raleigh Permit and Development Services
Rule last checked
October 30, 2026

Permits Issued per Month

0 Nov 0 Dec 1 Jan 2 Feb 0 Mar 3 Apr 4 May 0 Jun 1 Jul 0 Aug 0 Sep 0 Oct
Raleigh solar panel permits issued per month, Nov 2025 to Oct 2026. Lighter bar = current month to date.

Counts are approximate: we match permit types and descriptions to solar panel work. Data from Raleigh Building Permits, refreshed October 30, 2026.

What Raleigh's Rules Say

  • New electrical wiring and equipment are excluded from the exemption.
  • Licensed electrical contractors must be named.
  • Roof-mounted arrays may need structural review.

Raleigh Solar Panel Permit Fees

We have not verified Raleigh's fee for this work from an official fee schedule yet, so we don't quote one. The City of Raleigh Permit and Development Services sets the fee when you apply. For context, the median fee actually paid on these permits in the city's records was $392.

Busiest Areas for Solar Panel Permits

ZIP codePermits (12 mo)
276124
276152
276102
276042
276091

How to Get a Solar Panel Permit in Raleigh

  1. Confirm the rule for your exact job on the official page cited above. Size, height, structure and location (historic district, floodplain) can change the answer.
  2. Choose who applies. Many permits here must be pulled by a licensed contractor; ask any contractor to name the license they will use.
  3. Apply with the City of Raleigh Permit and Development Services through the official department website.
  4. Schedule inspections as the permit requires, and keep the final approval with your house records.

Recent Raleigh Solar Panel Permits

IssuedAddressWork
2026-07-153131 Briar Stream RunSolar Installation of 14.960 KW Residential Roof-Mounted PV System and One Tesla Power Wall Battery
2026-05-266125 Glenwood AveINSTALLATION OF ROOF MOUNTED PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLOR SYSTEM
2026-05-158521 Falls Of Neuse Rdinstallation of a 67.5 DC kw (50.0 AC kw) rooftop PV solar system via NCDOI opt 2. Per PE design and
2026-05-04509 Solar DrConvert single family dwelling located at 509 Solar Drive into a duplex: both duplex units to be div
2026-05-047205 Valley Lake Drinstallation of utility interactive energy storage system in addition to the existing PV system and
2026-04-093416 Blue Ridge RdInstallation of a roof-mounted 8.36 KW Solar PV system consisting of (19) modules (1) Tesla Powerwal
2026-04-082550 Operations WayREPLACE EXPIRED PERMIT#BLDNR-053404-2024 9096 SF SOLAR PANEL Installation of a 138.03 kW DC 120 kW A
2026-04-074907 Yadkin Dr31.5'x13' In-Ground Concrete Heated Swimming Pool with solar ledge, 6'x7' raised heated spa and 235
2026-02-242501 N Raleigh BlvdInstallation of 194.400 kW roof mounted solar The system consists of 360 X LONGI LR5-72HBD-540M sola
2026-02-247700 Burwell StInstallation of 80.46 kW roof mounted solar at 7700 Burwell St, Raleigh, NC 27615. The system cons

Addresses and work descriptions as published by the city. Owner names and phone numbers are removed.

Raleigh Solar Panel Contractors: Get Weekly Permit Lists

Contractors: get new permits for your trade and city every Monday. Join the waitlist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a solar panel permit in 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.

How many solar panel permits does Raleigh issue?

Raleigh issued 11 permits matching solar panel work between October 30, 2025 and October 30, 2026, about 1 a month. The busiest month was May 2026 with 4.

How much does a solar panel permit cost in Raleigh?

We have not yet verified Raleigh's fee for this work from an official fee schedule, so we do not quote one. The fee is set by the City of Raleigh Permit and Development Services when you apply. In the city's own records, the median fee paid on these permits over the last 12 months was $392.

How long does it take to get a solar panel permit in Raleigh?

Based on the city's records, the median time from application to issue for these permits was 11 days over the last 12 months.

Who issues solar panel permits in Raleigh?

The City of Raleigh Permit and Development Services.

Related Permit Guides

Written and maintained by the Home Permit Guide Editorial TeamPlaceholder profile

Last updated

This is a placeholder editorial profile. A named reviewer with verifiable experience will be added here. Until then, every rule on this page links to the official government source it was checked against. Read our editorial policy.

Sources

Official sources checked on . Rules change; confirm with the department before you start work.

  1. N.C. General Statute 160D-1110 (linked above) (ncleg.gov)
  2. Raleigh: Residential Permits (raleighnc.gov)