Colorado / Local permit guide
Denver Solar Permit Guide
Your local requirements. The official sources. A clearer next step.
- Permit authority
- City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development (CPD)Source linked
- Electric utility
- Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy)Source linked
- Local pathway
- SolarApp+ Quick Permit (Electrical) for eligible single-family/duplex projects; standard electrical + building permit review otherwiseProject-specific eligibility conditions apply.
- Review time
- Not yet verified.
Denver County ·
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Your permit path,
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This shows what GridPermit has verified for Denver. It does not show the status of a specific project.
- 01Permit authorityCity and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development (CPD)Authority sourced
- 02DocumentsChecklist includes conditional itemsConditions apply
- 03InspectionInspection guidance for DenverSteps sourced
- 04Utility & PTOPublic Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy)Utility path sourced
01 / Know your path
Two approvals.
One project.
Permit & inspection
City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development (CPD)
Local requirementsInterconnection & PTO
Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy)
Utility requirementsA local permit and utility permission to operate are different approvals. Check the local sequence and requirements below.
How to read this guide
GridPermit collects Colorado 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.
Sources & confidence
Permit fees
Directly extracted from the City's own 'Building and Related Fees' policy (ADMIN 125/138, revised May 21, 2024), Table 1's 'Special Fee Modifications — Fee Reductions' row, which is explicitly and unambiguously labeled 'Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and other renewable energy (RE) projects' — not a general fee cap or an unrelated category.
- Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and other renewable energy building permit fee (flat, replaces the standard valuation-based fee): $50 (flat fee per permit (including each subsequent modified permit for PV-related scope))
Applies to both single-family residential and commercial PV installations. Where non-solar work is also part of the project, this flat fee applies only to the solar PV portion; non-PV work is billed at the standard valuation-based rate.
- Plan review fee for PV or other renewable energy system permits: $0 (flat (waived))
The standard plan review fee (normally 50% of the permit fee) is $0 for PV/renewable-energy permits.
Sources & confidence
Rebates on record
Rebates on record
Colorado Residential Solar Property Tax Exemption
Statewide Colorado property tax exemption: independently owned residential solar electric generation facilities (photovoltaic systems) meeting the criteria in §39-1-102(6.8), C.R.S. are exempt from Colorado property taxation under §39-3-102, C.R.S. To qualify, the facility must be located on residential real property, used to produce electricity primarily for use in the residential improvements, and have a production capacity of no more than 100 kW AC. This is a genuine statewide exemption applicable to any qualifying Colorado residential system, not utility- or city-specific — distinct from any local (county/municipal) incentive, which the Division's own page notes Colorado does NOT offer at the general statewide level (only county/municipal governments may separately opt to offer their own local property/sales tax credits under §§30-11-107.3 and 31-20-101.3, C.R.S.).
Status on file: active. Verify current status before relying on this.
Sources & confidence
Utility and generation supplier
Utility
Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy)
Directly confirmed via Xcel Energy's own Colorado customer portal. Xcel Energy is Colorado's largest electric utility, dominant across the Front Range/Denver metro.
Sources & confidence
Generation supplier
Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy) (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
Interconnection
https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/renewable/net-metering
Xcel Energy's own Colorado Net Energy Metering page. All solar customers receive net energy metering; excess generation is banked against future bills. Eligibility requires an active Xcel Energy account, UL 1741 SB-certified equipment, and (for larger systems) general liability insurance — no insurance requirement applies below 1 MW AC, so this does not affect typical residential systems.
Inspection steps
- A qualified person (licensed master/journeyman electrician, residential wireman, or — for systems with 400A service or less — a NABCEP-certified solar installer capable of testing rapid shutdown) must be present at the PV electrical inspection
- If structural enhancements are required (beyond blocking/sistering of rafters, joists, or truss top chords), a rough framing inspection must also be requested
- At inspection, the contractor must submit written documentation that grounding/bonding was performed per NEC 690.41-690.47 and all roof-mounted equipment complies with NEC guidelines
- The rapid shutdown system must be tested at the final electrical inspection with the inspector present
Sources & confidence
Eligibility constraints
- Property types: residential, duplex
- Max system size (AC): Not yet verified.
- Max system size (DC): Not yet verified.
- Max thermal capacity: Not yet verified.
- Program/pathway: SolarApp+ Quick Permit (Electrical) for eligible single-family/duplex projects; standard electrical + building permit review otherwise
- Other conditions:
- SolarApp+ eligibility: single-family or duplex home, utility service of 400A or less, DC rating under 10kW, no service upgrades/new AC panels/EV chargers/home rewiring/solar shingles in scope
- A zoning permit is required first if panels are not flush-mounted, or if a generator/energy storage system will be located on the exterior of the structure
- A Certificate of Appropriateness from Landmark Preservation is required first if the property is in a historic district or a designated landmark
- Engineered plans with a PE seal are not required for 1-2 family homes/townhomes unless the system is 10kW or more, or includes a generator or solar shingles
- Roof access/pathway requirements apply: two 36-inch-wide access pathways on separate roof slopes, at least one on the street/driveway side; ridge setbacks of 18-36 inches depending on roof coverage
Sources & confidence
Official contacts
Official contacts
- Denver Community Planning and Development, Residential Zoning, phone: 720-865-2710, email: residentialpermits@denvergov.org, official website
- Denver Landmark Preservation, phone: 720-865-2719, email: landmark@denvergov.org, official website
Need a solar installer who handles permits in Denver?
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
- Net Energy Metering, Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado) (utility). Accessed 2026-08-12.
- Renewable and Clean Energy Assessment (Residential Renewable Energy property tax exemption), Colorado Division of Property Taxation, Dept. of Local Affairs (program_administrator). Accessed 2026-08-13.
- Solar Permits for Photovoltaic and Hot Water Panels, City and County of Denver (government). Accessed 2026-08-12.
- Building Permit Policy: Residential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Energy Systems Permits (DRC R324 - 2023 NEC), City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development (government). Accessed 2026-08-12.
- Building Permit Policy: Building and Related Fees (ADMIN 125 and 138), City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development (government). Accessed 2026-08-12.
Frequently Asked Questions
What utility serves solar customers in Denver, Colorado?
Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy) is the interconnection and distribution utility for Denver. The same utility is also listed as the default electricity generation supplier.
What documents are required for a solar permit in Denver?
Commonly required documents include: Site plan showing the location of all buildings on the property; Roof layout of solar PV panel locations demonstrating compliance with DRC 324.6 roof access/pathway requirements; Manufacturer's specification sheets and listing information for PV equipment, inverters, and other special equipment; One-Line Diagram (conductor sizes/insulation types, conduit sizes, fuse/circuit breaker ratings, inverter ratings, GFPD, AC/DC disconnect ratings, grounding electrode system); Conductor ampacity calculations per NEC 690.8 (or a licensed PE-stamped design for systems over 100kW); SolarApp+ Inspections Checklist and all SolarApp+ documentation output; Structural calculations by a Colorado-registered PE, OR a sealed structural integrity letter from a Colorado-licensed structural engineer; Certificate of Appropriateness from Landmark Preservation.
Who do I contact about solar permits in Denver?
Denver Community Planning and Development, Residential Zoning, phone 720-865-2710, email residentialpermits@denvergov.org.