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California / Local permit guide

Modesto Solar Permit Guide

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

Permit authority
City of Modesto Building Safety DivisionSource linked
Electric utility
Modesto Irrigation District (MID)Source linked
Local pathway
Expedited Solar Photovoltaic Permitting (one- or two-family dwellings)Project-specific eligibility conditions apply.
See your permit path

Stanislaus County ·

Modesto Solar Permit Checklist
Printed from mygridpermit.com/california/modesto/solar-permit-guide/ · Last verified 2026-10-08 · City of Modesto Building Safety Division / MID · Verify current requirements before relying on this checklist. Programs and fees change.
Source healthLast verified 2026-10-086 official sources5 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 Modesto Building Safety Division and MID before making a decision.

Research coverage

Your permit path,
at a glance.

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

  1. 01Permit authorityCity of Modesto Building Safety DivisionAuthority sourced
  2. 02DocumentsChecklist includes conditional itemsConditions apply
  3. 03InspectionInspection guidance for ModestoSteps sourced
  4. 04Utility & PTOModesto Irrigation District (MID)Utility path sourced

01 / Know your path

Two approvals.
One project.

Local authority

Permit & inspection

City of Modesto Building Safety Division

Local requirements
Electric utility

Interconnection & PTO

Modesto Irrigation District (MID)

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

No battery/storage incentive program is on record for this locality.

02 / Prepare your application

What you need.

0 of 1 markedSaved only on this device; not confirmation of permit readiness.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.95)

Source(s): Forms & Applications, Eligibility Checklist for Expedited Solar Permitting

Permit fees

  • Electrical Photovoltaic - Residential: $333 (flat fee (per permit))

    The City’s current Building Safety Fees page lists Electrical Photovoltaic — Residential at $333 per permit for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.95)

Source(s): Building Safety Fees — Effective July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027

Rebates on record

Rebates on record

Not yet verified.

Utility and generation supplier

Utility

Modesto Irrigation District (MID)

MID is an independent, publicly-owned (municipal) electric utility serving Modesto, distinct from 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): Solar Program

Generation supplier

Modesto Irrigation District (MID) (utility)

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: Medium (0.75)

Source(s): Solar Program

Interconnection

https://www.mid.org/saving-energy-money/solar/

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.

Confidence: Medium (0.5)

Permit authority

City of Modesto Building Safety Division

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.9)

Source(s): Building Safety Division

Permit page: https://permits.modestogov.com/564/Building-Safety-Division

Inspection steps

  • Inspections are conducted from the ground up in a specific defined order; you may not move forward in construction without passing each inspection
  • Building Inspectors will not take inspection requests over the phone or in the field; schedule through the E-TRAKIT Permits Portal instead
  • The City is unable to accommodate appointments

This is the City's general Building Safety Division inspection process (the same page covers all building permit types, including solar); the City does not publish a separate, solar-specific inspection sequence.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: Medium (0.65)

Source(s): Building Inspections

Eligibility constraints

  • Property types: residential
  • Max system size (AC): 10 kW
  • Max system size (DC): Not yet verified.
  • Max thermal capacity: Not yet verified.
  • Program/pathway: Expedited Solar Photovoltaic Permitting (one- or two-family dwellings)
  • Other conditions:
    • System size must be 10 kW AC (CEC rating) or less
    • Roof-mounted on a one- or two-family dwelling; utility-interactive, without battery storage
    • Roof must have a single roof covering without a reroof overlay
    • Access pathways at least 3 feet wide are required between multiple arrays
    • Panel fire classification must be provided and meet the rating required for the structure
    • MID also allows solar systems sized up to 115% of a customer's demonstrated load (for customers with 12+ months of service history)
Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.95)

Source(s): Eligibility Checklist for Expedited Solar Permitting, Solar Program

Official contacts

Official contacts

Confidence: Medium (0.75)

Need a solar installer who handles permits in Modesto?

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 Modesto, California?

Modesto Irrigation District (MID) is the interconnection and distribution utility for Modesto. The same utility is also listed as the default electricity generation supplier.

What documents are required for a solar permit in Modesto?

Commonly required documents include: Checklist for Expedited Residential Photovoltaic Systems (via Forms & Applications).

Who do I contact about solar permits in Modesto?

City of Modesto Building Safety Division, phone 209-577-5232, email odiaz@modestogov.com.

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 Modesto Building Safety Division and MID before starting a project. Last verified 2026-10-08.

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