Solar Panel Permits by City
Whether solar installation needs a permit depends on your city. Here is the official answer for each city we cover, ranked by how many solar panel permits the city issued in the last 12 months.
| City | Permit needed? | Permits (12 mo) |
|---|---|---|
| New York Solar Panel Permits | Yes No solar work can be done in New York City without a DOB work permit, a licensed contractor and a Registered Design Professional. | 5,493 |
| Chicago Solar Panel Permits | 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. | 1,615 |
| Austin Solar Panel Permits | Yes Solar panels or solar shingles inside Austin city limits that interconnect to Austin Energy need a residential building permit. | 660 |
| Orlando Solar Panel Permits | 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.. | 176 |
| Raleigh Solar Panel Permits | 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.. | 11 |
Go Deeper
For the patterns behind these rules, read Solar Panel Permit Rules for Homeowners.
Sources
Official sources checked on . Rules change; confirm with the department before you start work.
- NYC DOB: Project Requirements for Owner – Solar System (nyc.gov)
- Chicago DOB Express Permit Program: Small-Scale Solar PV System (chicago.gov)
- Austin DSD: Types of Permits (austintexas.gov)
- City of Orlando: Permitting Checklists (orlando.gov)
- City of Orlando: Electrical Permit Application (orlando.gov)
- N.C. General Statute 160D-1110 (ncleg.gov)
- Raleigh: Residential Permits (raleighnc.gov)