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California / Local permit guide

San Rafael Solar Permit Guide

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

Permit authority
City of San Rafael Building DivisionSource linked
Electric utility
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)Source linked
Local pathway
Standard residential solar permit (OpenGov online permitting system)Project-specific eligibility conditions apply.
See your permit path

Marin County · Explore related utility guides

San Rafael Solar Permit Checklist
Printed from mygridpermit.com/california/san-rafael/solar-permit-guide/ · Last verified 2026-08-09 · City of San Rafael Building Division / PG&E · Verify current requirements before relying on this checklist. Programs and fees change.
Source healthLast verified 2026-08-097 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 San Rafael Building Division and PG&E before making a decision.

Research coverage

Your permit path,
at a glance.

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

  1. 01Permit authorityCity of San Rafael Building DivisionAuthority sourced
  2. 02DocumentsChecklist includes conditional itemsConditions apply
  3. 03InspectionInspection guidance for San RafaelSteps sourced
  4. 04Utility & PTOPacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)Utility path sourced

01 / Know your path

Two approvals.
One project.

Local authority

Permit & inspection

City of San Rafael Building Division

Local requirements
Electric utility

Interconnection & PTO

Pacific Gas & Electric (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): About, 2026 Self-Generation Incentive Program Handbook, SGIP Program Metrics and Incentive Step Tracker

02 / Prepare your application

What you need.

0 of 3 markedSaved only on this device; not confirmation of permit readiness.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.85)

Source(s): Renewable Energy

Permit fees

Not yet verified.

Rebates on record

Rebates on record

Not yet verified.

Utility and generation supplier

Utility

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)

San Rafael is a well-documented Marin County city within PG&E's core Northern California service territory.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.9)

Source(s): Renewable Energy

Generation supplier

MCE (Marin Clean Energy) (Community Choice Aggregator)

MCE's own service-area page confirms San Rafael as one of Marin County's member communities (alongside Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, Sausalito, Tiburon, and unincorporated Marin County). PG&E continues to deliver the power and provide billing/customer service.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.85)

Source(s): Service Area

Interconnection

https://www.pge.com/en/save-energy-and-money/rebates-and-incentives/nem.html

PG&E's own utility-wide Net Energy Metering (NEM) program page.

Confidence: Medium (0.55)

Permit authority

City of San Rafael Building Division

Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.9)

Source(s): Renewable Energy

Permit page: https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/renewable-energy/

Inspection steps

  • Log in to or create an account in the City's OpenGov online permitting system
  • For a permit originally issued in eTRAKiT, select the issuing department, submit the 'Inspection Request (Permits Issued in eTRAKiT)' record, then use '+ New Appointment' to request the inspection
  • For a permit issued in OpenGov, open the permit record's Inspections tab and use '+ New Appointment'
  • City staff will schedule the inspection and send an email notification

This is the City's general Building/Fire inspection scheduling process via its OpenGov permitting system (the same process covers all building permit types, including solar); the City does not describe a separate, solar-specific inspection sequence.

Sources & confidence

Confidence: Medium (0.65)

Source(s): Scheduling Inspections

Eligibility constraints

  • Property types: residential
  • Max system size (AC): Not yet verified.
  • Max system size (DC): Not yet verified.
  • Max thermal capacity: Not yet verified.
  • Program/pathway: Standard residential solar permit (OpenGov online permitting system)
  • Other conditions:
    • Solar panels, battery backup, and/or service panel upgrades done simultaneously can be included on a single solar permit (additional fees may apply)
    • Reroof-with-solar-tile permits should list only the reroof value, excluding solar tile costs
    • Building permits issued after January 1, 2023 are valid for 2 years; minor permits expire after 180 days
    • All new permit applications must be submitted through OpenGov beginning February 23, 2026
Sources & confidence

Confidence: High (0.8)

Source(s): Renewable Energy

Official contacts

Official contacts

Confidence: High (0.85)

Need a solar installer who handles permits in San Rafael?

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 San Rafael, California?

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is the interconnection and distribution utility for San Rafael. The default electricity generation supplier is MCE (Marin Clean Energy), a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), separate from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E).

What documents are required for a solar permit in San Rafael?

Commonly required documents include: Site plan (panel locations, layout, clearances); Electrical details; Manufacturer specifications.

Who do I contact about solar permits in San Rafael?

City of San Rafael Chief Building Official, phone 415-485-3367, email building@cityofsanrafael.org.

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 San Rafael Building Division and PG&E before starting a project. Last verified 2026-08-09.

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