How to submit a solar permit, online or in person

Submitting a solar permit is mostly about completeness. Reviewers approve packages that contain everything they are required to check, in a form they can read. Whether you file online or at the counter, the package is largely the same — the difference is the delivery method and how you track it.

Step 1: Confirm your AHJ's requirements

Before assembling anything, find out what your AHJ requires. Most building departments publish a solar submittal checklist listing the exact sheets, the adopted code edition, and the accepted filing method. A quick call to the permit counter resolves anything unclear. Skipping this step is the most common cause of an incomplete filing.

Step 2: Assemble the package

A standard residential submittal includes:

• Permit application — the AHJ's form with owner, contractor, and system details
• Site/plot plan — property lines, structures, setbacks, north arrow
• Roof plan — array layout, fire access pathways and setbacks
• One-line diagram — modules, inverter, conductors, OCPD, disconnects, grounding
• Structural details — attachment type, spacing, and framing check
• Equipment datasheets — module, inverter, and racking cut sheets
• Load calculation where required, and a label schedule

Our breakdown of what is in a permit set covers each sheet in detail.

Step 3: Choose your submittal method

For online portals, follow the file-naming and PDF requirements exactly — a set that is one combined PDF when they want separate sheets can be rejected before review even starts. In person, bring the number of printed copies the AHJ specifies.

Step 4: Pay fees and track the application

Permit fees are usually due at submittal. Once filed, note your permit or application number and check the portal (or call) for status. If corrections come back, they are typically drawing or label fixes rather than redesigns — address every comment and resubmit promptly, since the review queue, not the fix, is usually the delay.

Step 5: After approval

Once the permit issues, you can install to the approved plans — build exactly what was stamped. Then schedule inspection, and after passing, submit the signed inspection to the utility for permission to operate. Field changes should be documented and, when significant, submitted as a revision.

The takeaway

The mechanics of submitting a solar permit are simple; the difficulty is completeness and accuracy. A package that matches the AHJ's checklist, uses the right filing method, and passes code on the first read is what gets approved without a back-and-forth. No tool guarantees approval, and a licensed electrician or PE must review and stamp the design. When you are ready to build the set, start with our DIY workflow.

Educational reference, reviewed 2026-07. A design aid, not a substitute for a licensed electrician or PE. Confirm the enforced NEC edition and local amendments with your AHJ.