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California / Local permit guide

Menlo Park Solar Permit Guide

Your local requirements. The official sources. A clearer next step.

Electric utility
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)Source linked
Local pathway
Photovoltaic Real Time (PRT) Permit (SB 379 automated real-time process)Project-specific eligibility conditions apply.
See your permit path

San Mateo County · Explore related utility guides

Menlo Park Solar Permit Checklist
Printed from mygridpermit.com/california/menlo-park/solar-permit-guide/ · Last verified 2026-08-05 · City of Menlo Park Community Development Department, Building Division / PG&E · Verify current requirements before relying on this checklist. Programs and fees change.
Source healthLast verified 2026-08-058 official sources4 of 6 core facts verified
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Informational only. This page is not legal, engineering, or permit advice. Every fact below links to the official source it came from and shows how confident we are in it. Verify current requirements with City of Menlo Park Community Development Department, Building Division and PG&E before making a decision.

Research coverage

Your permit path,
at a glance.

This shows what GridPermit has verified for Menlo Park. It does not show the status of a specific project.

  1. 01Permit authorityCity of Menlo Park Community Development Department, Building DivisionAuthority sourced
  2. 02DocumentsChecklist includes conditional itemsConditions apply
  3. 03InspectionInspection guidance for Menlo ParkSteps sourced
  4. 04Utility & PTOPacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)Utility path sourced

01 / Know your path

Two approvals.
One project.

Local authority

Permit & inspection

City of Menlo Park Community Development Department, Building Division

Local requirements
Electric utility

Interconnection & PTO

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)

Utility requirements

A local permit and utility permission to operate are different approvals. Check the local sequence and requirements below.

How to read this guide

GridPermit collects California residential solar and permitting facts directly from official sources (city, county, and state government sites, utilities, and public utilities commissions) and shows only what we can verify, with a confidence score and a link to where it came from. Nothing here is estimated or inferred beyond what's stated below. See our methodology for the rules this page follows.

Battery/solar incentive program on record

California SGIP - current category and budget check required

New applications and waitlist applications for ratepayer-funded SGIP budgets closed on December 30, 2025. New AB 209 applications have a June 30, 2028 deadline. The 2026 SGIP rate table publishes $3.10/W for solar and $1.10/Wh for storage in applicable Residential Solar and Storage Equity categories. Household eligibility and live budget availability vary by category and program administrator; check the official Program Metrics tracker before relying on an incentive.

Status on file: unknown. Verify current status before relying on this.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.9)

Source(s): SGIP - Statewide Announcements / About, 2026 Self-Generation Incentive Program Handbook, SGIP Program Metrics and Incentive Step Tracker

02 / Prepare your application

What you need.

0 of 8 markedSaved only on this device; not confirmation of permit readiness.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.9)

Source(s): Photovoltaic Real Time (PRT) Permit

Permit fees

The page states processor (SolarApp+) fees apply but does not state the City's own permit fee amount.

Not yet verified.

Rebates on record

Rebates on record

Not yet verified.

Utility and generation supplier

Utility

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)

Some supporting official material could not be independently confirmed from the full source in GridPermit's latest review. Verify the current requirement with the authority before relying on it.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.85)

Source(s): PG&E's Electric Service Territory

Generation supplier

WestLight Energy (formerly Peninsula Clean Energy) - ECOplus (default) (Community Choice Aggregator)

Confirmed directly via the City of Menlo Park's own page: 'WestLight Energy is the official electricity service provider for energy customers in San Mateo County.' The default product is ECOplus (50% renewable); ECO100 (100% renewable) is available as an opt-up tier; customers may also opt out entirely back to PG&E generation.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.9)

Source(s): WestLight Energy (formerly Peninsula Clean Energy)

Interconnection

https://www.pge.com/en/about/doing-business-with-pge/interconnections/net-energy-metering-program.html

PG&E's own Net Energy Metering (NEM) program page — a utility-wide fact already established for other PG&E-territory records in this dataset.

Confidence: Medium (0.6)

Permit authority

City of Menlo Park Community Development Department, Building Division

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.9)

Source(s): Photovoltaic Real Time (PRT) Permit

Permit page: https://www.menlopark.gov/Government/Departments/Community-Development/Building/Photovoltaic-Real-Time-PRT-Permit

Inspection steps

  • Request inspection through the Accela Citizen Access (ACA) portal after construction completion
Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.8)

Source(s): Photovoltaic Real Time (PRT) Permit

Eligibility constraints

  • Property types: residential
  • Max system size (AC): 38.4 kW
  • Max system size (DC): Not yet verified.
  • Max thermal capacity: Not yet verified.
  • Program/pathway: Photovoltaic Real Time (PRT) Permit (SB 379 automated real-time process)
  • Other conditions:
    • Single-family residential, roof-mounted, new installations only (no upgrades or additions)
    • Maximum system capacity 38.4 kW
    • Electrical service must be 400A or less with no panel upgrades, and include a 225A disconnect switch and bus bars
    • Applicant must be a California-licensed contractor
    • Projects including battery storage or EV charger installations are currently ineligible for the automated real-time process
    • Menlo Park Fire Protection District approval is required before City permit issuance
Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.9)

Source(s): Photovoltaic Real Time (PRT) Permit

Official contacts

Official contacts

Confidence: High (0.85)

Need a solar installer who handles permits in Menlo Park?

EnergySage is an independent solar marketplace where you can request property-specific pricing from installers familiar with local permitting.

Compare quotes from solar installers →

You'll continue on EnergySage's website. GridPermit links to EnergySage as an independent third-party resource. This link is not currently tracked for compensation.

Official sources

Official sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What utility serves solar customers in Menlo Park, California?

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is the interconnection and distribution utility for Menlo Park. The default electricity generation supplier is WestLight Energy (formerly Peninsula Clean Energy) - ECOplus (default), a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), separate from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).

What documents are required for a solar permit in Menlo Park?

Commonly required documents include: Site plan with ESS and grounding locations; Proposed and existing roof plans; Installation details and electrical one-line drawing with wire sizes; PV labeling plan; Building permit application form; Structural calculations and electrical load calculations; All product specifications; Menlo Park Fire Protection District approval letter.

Who do I contact about solar permits in Menlo Park?

City of Menlo Park Building Permits, phone 650-330-6704.

Disclaimers: This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal, engineering, financial, tax, or permit advice. GridPermit is not a solar installer, contractor, engineering firm, public utility, or government agency. Requirements, fees, and program terms change. Verify current requirements with City of Menlo Park Community Development Department, Building Division and PG&E before starting a project. Last verified 2026-08-05.

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