Permits and inspections for a solar installation

Which permits does a solar installation need?

Expect up to four layers of approval, each handled by a different body.

• Building permit. Usually from the municipality. It covers structure, roof loads and fire access, and it often needs an engineer's or manufacturer's load information for the mounting.
• Electrical permit and inspection. Issued by the municipality, a provincial safety authority or an accredited agency, depending on the province. It covers wiring, grounding, disconnects and rapid-shutdown rules under the electrical code.
• Zoning and site rules. Setbacks, heritage districts, height limits and ground-mount restrictions. Condominium or strata boards may also have to approve.
• Utility interconnection approval. A separate application to your electricity distributor to connect and, where offered, export power.

For Alberta specifics, see solar panel permits in Alberta. Solar water heating and pool systems may also need a plumbing permit, so ask.

Who applies for the permits?

In most cases the installer does, and it is normally part of the installation price. Still confirm it in writing: who prepares the drawings, who pays application fees, who books inspections, and what happens if a permit is refused or an inspection fails. Homeowners sometimes must sign as the applicant or authorise the contractor to act for them. If you are doing a small system yourself, many jurisdictions still require a licensed electrician for the final connection, so check before buying equipment.

The solar installer checklist includes permit questions to ask before signing, and the solar installation timeline shows where permits sit in the schedule.

What does the inspection check?

An inspector compares the finished work with the approved plans and the code. Typical checks are secure mounting and flashing, correct wire sizes and conduit, grounding and bonding, labelling, the position and rating of disconnects, rapid-shutdown devices, and the connection to the main panel. Some jurisdictions inspect the structure, others only the electrical work. If something fails, the installer corrects it and a re-inspection is booked, which can add days.

Keep the permit, inspection certificate and as-built plans. They help with your insurer, a future sale, and any claim on a warranty or incentive. See the solar paperwork and tax checklist and home insurance after a solar install.

What does the utility require, and when?

Utility approval is not the same as a municipal permit. Your electricity distributor reviews the system size, inverter and connection, may require a signed agreement, and may have to inspect, replace or reprogram your meter before the system can operate. Some utilities want the application before the installer orders equipment, while others accept it after the permit. Ask early, since the queue can be longer than the build.

Credits for exported power, size caps and any fees depend on the utility and province and change over time. For Alberta, see the Alberta microgeneration regulation and Alberta net metering explained, and confirm current terms with your distributor.

How do you avoid permit and inspection delays?

• Choose an installer who has worked with your municipality and utility recently.
• Make sure the roof and electrical panel are in decent shape before applying.
• Provide ownership documents and any condo or strata approvals promptly.
• Keep the installation matching the approved drawings, and ask for revisions in writing.
• Do not switch the system on until you have written permission to operate.

Large community systems face the same layers of approval. The Drake Landing project in Okotoks, Alberta, put 800 collectors on garage roofs, and its solar collection page and the news archive give a view of how such a system was built and reported.

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