Before you install solar panels, you need to get approval from any Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) that may be responsible for overseeing the work:Your local planning or building department, which could refer to your city or countyYour utility companyYour Homeowner's Association (HOA), if you have one.
Do you need a permit to install solar panels?
Generally, local governments require a homeowner's solar installer/contractor to obtain a permit for rooftop panels before they can be installed. After the PV system is installed, a professional from the local government will inspect the new array to ensure all building, electrical, and safety codes have been followed.
You'll essentially get the new roof and solar panels all at once! If you do need a new roof before going to solar energy, it's a good idea to get it done. When you add solar pannels to your roof after a roof replacement, the panels will make the lifetime of your roof last longer.
How do I get approval for a solar installation from an HOA?
To get approval for a solar installation from an HOA, a customer typically requests an application from their HOA or gives the contractor permission to do so. Understanding this process will help you better guide your customer through it.
What is solar permitting & inspection?
Solar permitting and inspection refer to two processes that need to happen before a solar array can receive permission to interconnect to the grid and start producing electricity. Generally, local governments require a homeowner's solar installer/contractor to obtain a permit for rooftop panels before they can be installed.
How can a permit & inspection reduce solar soft costs?
Permitting and inspection processes ensure that a building is safe for solar and that the solar array is installed correctly and safely. Improving these processes can reduce solar soft costs by reducing the time and labor it takes for a solar installer/contractor to fill out and submit the forms and for a local government to process them.