San Diego Solar Permit Guide

01 / Know your path

Two approvals.
One project.

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

02 / Prepare your application

What you need.

• Hazardous Materials Reporting Form (DS-165)Required when: When a Building Permit is needed and/or batteries/ESS are part of a project other than single-family, duplex or townhouse; see IB-301 Application Package. This is not a blanket requirement for home batteries.
• San Diego Regional Hazardous Materials Questionnaire (HM-9171)Required when: when a Building Permit is required
• Stormwater Requirements Applicability Checklist (DS-560)Required when: when a Building Permit is required
• Owner-Builder Verification (DS-3042)Required when: before permit issuance when the owner performs the work or hires different contractors (IB-103)
• Project Contact form (DS-345)Required when: at permit issuance
• Site plan showing all PV panels, disconnects, inverters, batteries, and meter locationsRequired when: for the non-template PV plan submittal route, as applicable to the installation; qualifying residential sloped-roof projects may use the project-specific residential plan template
• Roof plan with slope, panel location, and weight calculationsRequired when: for the non-template PV plan submittal route, as applicable to the installation; qualifying residential sloped-roof projects may use the project-specific residential plan template
• Single-line diagram with voltage, kilowatt output, and conductor specificationsRequired when: for the non-template PV plan submittal route, as applicable to the installation; qualifying residential sloped-roof projects may use the project-specific residential plan template
• Manufacturer specifications for modules, racking, inverters, and batteriesRequired when: for the equipment included in the project, including when using the residential plan template
• Project-specific Residential PV plan templateRequired when: for the qualifying residential sloped-roof template route; customize the sheets, identify occupancy and include applicable equipment specifications
• Signed plans and structural calculations, when requiredRequired when: PV/ESS plans: responsible registered civil/electrical engineer or installing C-10, B or C-46 contractor; service-panel upgrade plans: electrical engineer or C-10; required structural calculations: architect, civil or structural engineer
• Circuit Card (DS-1779)Required when: at inspection for new electrical components in single-family/duplex projects unless the electrical plans, calculations and single-line diagram are already included in the approved plans; keep on site for rough inspection
• Approved plans, inspection record card and manufacturer installation instructionsRequired when: available on site for inspection
• SDG&E approval letter for a separate utility disconnectRequired when: available on site when a separate utility disconnect is required
• SDG&E service order and completed City Circuit CardRequired when: available on site for a service upgrade

Permit fees

Fee scope checked on 2026-10-12: IB-301 (May 2026) lists Electrical Permit components and includes service-panel upgrades up to 320 amps. Do not sum alternative residential and non-residential schedules or present these components as a complete project quote. ESS plan review/inspection is hourly; structural, zoning, brush/landscape and historical reviews may add hourly charges. Building/Combination Building Permits incur separate applicable fees under IB-501 (August 2026). IB-501 exempts no-plan-review projects from its General Plan Maintenance Fee; do not add general construction fees automatically. IB-103 (May 2026) routes PV fees to IB-301, so do not automatically add a standalone panel-upgrade fee. Online bank/processing charges may apply. SDG&E fees remain Not yet verified and are excluded.

• Residential First System/Inverter Inspection (no plan review): $275.8 (flat)

  Applies to the self-issued residential pathway (no plan review) under IB-301.

• Residential First System/Inverter Plan Check (with plan review): $154.2 (flat)

  Applies only if the project requires plan review rather than the self-issued pathway.

• Residential First System/Inverter Inspection (with plan review): $275.8 (flat)

  First system/inverter inspection component for single-family/duplex/townhouse projects requiring plan review; not the complete permit cost.

• Non-Residential/Multi-Family First 100 kW Plan Check: $758 (per 100kW)

  Non-residential/multi-family PV and photovoltaic-shingle schedule; not the standard residential PV headline. Additional electrical infrastructure may incur another fee.

• Non-Residential/Multi-Family Each Additional 100 kW Plan Check: $264 (per 100kW)

  Non-residential/multi-family PV and photovoltaic-shingle schedule; not the standard residential PV headline. Additional electrical infrastructure may incur another fee.

• Non-Residential/Multi-Family First 100 kW Inspection: $290 (per 100kW)

  Non-residential/multi-family PV and photovoltaic-shingle schedule; not the standard residential PV headline. Additional electrical infrastructure may incur another fee.

• Non-Residential/Multi-Family Each Additional 100 kW Inspection: $145 (per 100kW)

  Non-residential/multi-family PV and photovoltaic-shingle schedule; not the standard residential PV headline. Additional electrical infrastructure may incur another fee.

• Mapping Fee: $12.16 (flat)

  Applies when plans, drawings, maps or other geographical documents are used for project review; not an unconditional charge.

Rebates on record

Utility and generation supplier

Permit authority

Inspection steps

• Schedule applicable inspections before concealing work; provide site access and a responsible person.
• Ground-mounted installations: footing and underground raceway/conduit inspections where that work is included, followed by final inspection.
• Roof-mounted installations: rough inspection for concealed wiring and applicable array bonding/grounding checks, followed by final inspection.
• Structural foundation, rough and final inspections apply when required by the permitted structural scope.
• Keep approved plans, the inspection record card and manufacturer instructions on site, with the conditional utility-disconnect or service-upgrade documents.
• After final inspection approval for all related City permits, the City notifies SDG&E. City approval alone does not authorize energization; separate SDG&E approval is required.

City inspection scope checked on 2026-10-12. The PV inspection guidelines remain linked by the City; no publication date was visible. Underground and structural inspections are conditional, not universal rooftop steps. Current SDG&E application requirements, charges and permission-to-operate timing remain Not yet verified; no cross-utility comparison is asserted.

Eligibility constraints

• Property types: single-family, duplex, townhouse
• Max system size (AC): 38.4 kW
• Max system size (DC): Not yet verified.
• Max thermal capacity: Not yet verified.
• Program/pathway: Self-issued residential solar PV permit, no plan review (Information Bulletin 301)
• Other conditions:
  • Self-issued eligibility is for qualifying rooftop single-family, duplex or townhouse installations designed using the residential PV plan template; these are pathway limits, not universal citywide limits.
  • Energy storage systems up to 38.4 kWh total, with individual units not exceeding 20 kWh
  • Panel upgrades permitted up to 320 amps under the same self-issued pathway
  • An EV charger integrated into the inverter may be included.
  • Neither fire plan review nor structural review may be required for the self-issued route; consult IB-301 Structural Review, Plans and Calculations and Fire Roof Access and Pathways for review triggers.
  • No additional work requiring a Combination Building Permit, such as structural modifications or a new structure, is eligible under the self-issued route.
  • Ground-mounted PV with supports higher than five feet requires a Building Permit or Combination Building Permit; it is outside this rooftop self-issued route.
  • Self-issued permitting is distinct from optional Express Plan Check; IB-301 excludes single-family, duplex and ADU projects from Express Plan Check.

Official contacts

Official sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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