Union City Solar Permit Guide
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) territory · Alameda County
Overview
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.
Permit timeline
7–14 days
Search-engine synthesis indicates plan check typically takes 1-2 weeks; not independently confirmed via direct fetch this session.
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.
Permit fees
Not yet verified.
Rebates
Not yet verified.
Utility and generation supplier
Utility
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
Generation supplier
Ava Community Energy (Community Choice Aggregator)
Ava Community Energy confirms Union City as a current member city, alongside Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, and San Leandro in Alameda County. PG&E continues to deliver the power and provide billing/customer service.
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.
Required documents
Not yet verified.
Inspection steps
- Only one inspection is required for small residential rooftop solar systems, performed by the Building Official
- A Final Inspection is required after installation of the Solar Photovoltaic System
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: Instant Solar Permit (ISP) via SolarAPP+ / Expedited Streamlined Permitting Process for Small Residential Rooftop Solar Systems
- Other conditions:
- Solar energy systems for producing electricity must meet standards from the California Electrical Code, IEEE, and accredited testing laboratories (e.g. UL)
Official contacts
- City of Union City Building Division, phone: 510-675-5313, official website
Need a solar installer who handles permits in Union City?
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 has a partner relationship with EnergySage; this link is not currently tracked, and whether the partnership results in compensation to GridPermit has not yet been confirmed.
Sources
- Building, City of Union City (government). Accessed 2026-08-08.
- Net Energy Metering (NEM), Pacific Gas & Electric (utility). Accessed 2026-08-08.
- Who We Serve, Ava Community Energy (other_official). Accessed 2026-08-08.
- About, Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) (cpuc). Accessed 2026-08-09.
- 2026 Self-Generation Incentive Program Handbook, Self-Generation Incentive Program Program Administrators (program_administrator). Accessed 2026-08-26.
- SGIP Program Metrics and Incentive Step Tracker, Self-Generation Incentive Program Program Administrators (program_administrator). Accessed 2026-08-26.
Frequently Asked Questions
What utility serves solar customers in Union City, California?
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is the interconnection and distribution utility for Union City. The default electricity generation supplier is Ava Community Energy, a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), separate from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E).
How long does a residential solar permit take in Union City?
Search-engine synthesis indicates plan check typically takes 1-2 weeks; not independently confirmed via direct fetch this session.
Who do I contact about solar permits in Union City?
City of Union City Building Division, phone 510-675-5313.
Related California cities
Other verified cities related to Union City. See all cities on the California solar permit guide index.