Hawaii / Local permit guide
Kahului Solar Permit Guide
Your local requirements. The official sources. A clearer next step.
- Permit authority
- County of Maui Department of Public Works, Development Services Administration (Electrical Permit and Inspection Section)Source linked
- Electric utility
- Maui Electric Company (MECO)Source linked
- Local pathway
- DSA 18.0 Roof-Mounted PV ProcedureProject-specific eligibility conditions apply.
- Review time
- Up to 30 daysOnly the stated upper bound is verified. The source's project scope and conditions apply.See source scope and conditions below.
County of Maui ·
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Your permit path,
at a glance.
This shows what GridPermit has verified for Kahului. It does not show the status of a specific project.
- 01Permit authorityCounty of Maui Department of Public Works, Development Services Administration (Electrical Permit and Inspection Section)Authority sourced
- 02DocumentsChecklist includes conditional itemsConditions apply
- 03InspectionCurrent inspection sequence needs confirmationNot verified
- 04Utility & PTOMaui Electric Company (MECO)Utility path sourced
01 / Know your path
Two approvals.
One project.
Permit & inspection
County of Maui Department of Public Works, Development Services Administration (Electrical Permit and Inspection Section)
Local 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 Hawaii 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
Up to 30 days
Only the stated upper bound is verified. The source's project scope and conditions apply.
Per the County's own Electrical Permit and Inspection Section page: 'The electrical permit will be issued within 30 days after the application is deemed complete.'
Sources & confidence
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
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.
Not yet verified.
Rebates on record
Rebates on record
Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit (RETITC) — Solar Energy System
Statewide Hawaii state income tax credit for solar energy systems (HRS 235-12.5): 35% of actual installed cost, capped at $5,000 per system for single-family residential property (lower of the two), $350 per unit for multi-family residential, or $500,000 per system for commercial property. A separate, higher-value $2,250 cap applies if the system's primary purpose is solar water heating rather than PV. Any utility rebate received must be deducted from system cost before computing the credit. Applies statewide to any Hawaii taxpayer regardless of county/island — a genuine reusable statewide fact, not utility- or county-specific.
Status on file: active. Verify current status before relying on this.
Sources & confidence
Utility and generation supplier
Utility
Maui Electric Company (MECO)
Confirmed via the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission's own page and Hawaiian Electric's corporate site; MECO is a Hawaiian Electric Industries subsidiary serving Maui, Lanai, and Molokai under its own tariff, distinct from HECO (Oahu) and HELCO (Hawaii Island). Also directly named on Maui County's own Electrical Permit page ('Maui Electric Company's Engineering Office').
Sources & confidence
Generation supplier
Maui Electric Company (MECO) (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
Inspection steps
Not yet verified.
Eligibility constraints
- Property types: residential, commercial
- Max system size (AC): Not yet verified.
- Max system size (DC): Not yet verified.
- Max thermal capacity: Not yet verified.
- Program/pathway: DSA 18.0 Roof-Mounted PV Procedure
- Other conditions:
- Roof-mounted PV: an electrical permit is always required; a BUILDING permit is required ONLY IF the licensed architect/structural engineer determines the existing roof truss system cannot support the added weight without additional structural reinforcing — otherwise no building permit is needed for the PV system itself
- A C-13 licensed electrical contractor is required to obtain the electrical permit; the electrical contractor is responsible for PV system design and installation
- Free-standing (ground-mounted) PV systems always require BOTH a building permit and an electrical permit, with scaled/detailed site, foundation, elevation, framing, and mounting plans
- PV systems rated 30 kW or more require schematics prepared, stamped, and signed by a Hawaii-licensed electrical engineer (not just an architect/structural engineer letter)
- PV systems are allowed on buildings exempt from a building permit under Maui County Code 16.26.106.2 exemptions 1 and 16, but are NOT allowed on structures that were illegally constructed without a required building permit
- Electrical permits expire if the initial required inspection is not approved within 1 year of issuance; once the initial inspection is approved, the permit remains active up to 5 years from issuance or until final inspection, whichever occurs first
- Permits for photovoltaic systems may require a separate Fire Permit from the Fire Prevention Bureau
Sources & confidence
Official contacts
Official contacts
- County of Maui Electrical Permit and Inspection Section, phone: 808-270-7255, official website
- Maui Electric Company's Engineering Office, phone: 808-871-2390, official website
Need a solar installer who handles permits in Kahului?
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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
- Electrical Permit and Inspection Section, County of Maui, Department of Public Works (government). Accessed 2026-08-12.
- HRS §235-12.5 — Renewable energy technologies; income tax credit, Hawaii State Legislature (government). Accessed 2026-08-13.
- DSA 18.0 — Permit Requirements for Photovoltaic Systems, Wind Turbines and Windmills, County of Maui, Department of Public Works, Development Services Administration (government). Accessed 2026-08-12.
- Smart Renewable Energy Programs, Hawaiian Electric (parent company of MECO) (utility). Accessed 2026-08-12.
- Energy — Electric Utilities Regulated by the Hawaii PUC, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (puc). Accessed 2026-08-12.
Frequently Asked Questions
What utility serves solar customers in Kahului, Hawaii?
Maui Electric Company (MECO) is the interconnection and distribution utility for Kahului. The same utility is also listed as the default electricity generation supplier.
How long does a residential solar permit take in Kahului?
Per the County's own Electrical Permit and Inspection Section page: 'The electrical permit will be issued within 30 days after the application is deemed complete.' Only the stated upper bound is verified. The source's project scope and conditions apply.
What documents are required for a solar permit in Kahului?
Commonly required documents include: Letter and related forms from a Hawaii-licensed architect or structural engineer verifying the roof assembly (including module mounting system) is structurally adequate; Schematic diagrams showing PV system connections, equipment locations, configuration, and ratings; Schematic diagrams prepared, stamped, and signed by a Hawaii-licensed electrical engineer; Building permit plans (site plan, foundation plan, elevations, framing plans, structural details, module mounting details) stamped by a Hawaii-licensed architect or structural engineer.
Who do I contact about solar permits in Kahului?
County of Maui Electrical Permit and Inspection Section, phone 808-270-7255.