Montgomery County Solar Permit Guide
Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) territory · Montgomery County
Overview
GridPermit collects Maryland 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
5–7 days
Per the County's own page: 'Adequately prepared applications are usually issued within 5-7 days of application.' An expedited 'fast-track' review is also available for projects meeting standardized requirements (likely the County's SolarAPP+-integrated eSolar program), which was not separately itemized with its own day-count this session.
Battery/solar incentive program on record
No battery/storage incentive program is on record for this locality.
Permit fees
Not yet verified.
Rebates
Not yet verified.
Utility and generation supplier
Utility
Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco)
Generation supplier
Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) (utility)
No Community Choice Aggregator was found serving Montgomery County's residential solar customers this session; Pepco is recorded as both the distribution and default generation utility. Maryland does have a statewide 'Standard Offer Service' framework and various competitive suppliers, but these are distinct from a formal CCA and were not independently detailed this session.
Interconnection
https://psc.maryland.gov/regulated-utilities/electricity/renewable-energy/solar-in-maryland/
Maryland's net metering requirement is set at the state level by the Public Service Commission (statutory basis: Public Utilities Article §7-306; regulatory basis: COMAR 20.50.10), applicable to all Maryland investor-owned utilities including Pepco. The PSC's own page confirms the program is capped at 3,000 MW statewide with individual customer-generator systems capped at 2 MW — far above any realistic residential system size. The exact net-metering credit rate/mechanism was not stated on the specific PSC page fetched this session and was not independently confirmed elsewhere.
Required documents
- Construction drawings submitted electronically via the County's ePlans system, per the County's Residential PV Systems submittal guidelines (roof specifications and electrical integration plans) (required when: always)
- Additional documentation for properties with a private well and/or septic system (required when: if the property has a well or septic system)
Inspection steps
- Rough-in inspection
- Final inspection
- Inspections must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance via the County's online portal, providing the permit number and contact ID
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 (two permits: building + electrical); expedited 'fast-track' review available for standardized projects
- Other conditions:
- Homeowners cannot apply directly — a contractor must hold a valid Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license to submit the application
- Townhouses 4 or more stories above grade require a commercial permit instead of the residential process
- Both a building permit (for panel attachment) and an electrical permit (for connection to the home's electrical service) are required
Official contacts
- Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS), phone: 240-777-0311, official website
Need a solar installer who handles permits in Montgomery County?
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
- Residential Solar Permit Process, Montgomery County, Maryland, Department of Permitting Services (government). Accessed 2026-08-13.
- Maryland Public Service Commission to Investigate 'Reliability of Pepco' (press release), Montgomery County, Maryland (government). Accessed 2026-08-13.
- Solar in Maryland, Maryland Public Service Commission (puc). Accessed 2026-08-13.
- Contact DPS, Montgomery County, Maryland, Department of Permitting Services (government). Accessed 2026-08-13.
Frequently Asked Questions
What utility serves solar customers in Montgomery County, Maryland?
Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) is the interconnection and distribution utility for Montgomery County. The default electricity generation supplier is Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco), a utility, separate from Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco).
How long does a residential solar permit take in Montgomery County?
Per the County's own page: 'Adequately prepared applications are usually issued within 5-7 days of application.' An expedited 'fast-track' review is also available for projects meeting standardized requirements (likely the County's SolarAPP+-integrated eSolar program), which was not separately itemized with its own day-count this session.
What documents are required for a solar permit in Montgomery County?
Commonly required documents include: Construction drawings submitted electronically via the County's ePlans system, per the County's Residential PV Systems submittal guidelines (roof specifications and electrical integration plans); Additional documentation for properties with a private well and/or septic system.
Who do I contact about solar permits in Montgomery County?
Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS), phone 240-777-0311.