Maryland / Local permit guide
Montgomery County Solar Permit Guide
Your local requirements. The official sources. A clearer next step.
- Permit authority
- Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS)Source linked
- Electric utility
- Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco)Source linked
- Local pathway
- Standard residential solar permit (two permits: building + electrical); expedited 'fast-track' review available for standardized projectsProject-specific eligibility conditions apply.
- Review time
- 5–7 daysSee source scope and conditions below.
Montgomery County ·
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Research coverage
Your permit path,
at a glance.
This shows what GridPermit has verified for Montgomery County. It does not show the status of a specific project.
01 / Know your path
Two approvals.
One project.
Permit & inspection
Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS)
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 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
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
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
Not yet verified.
Utility and generation supplier
Utility
Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco)
Pepco serves most of Montgomery County (along with Prince George's County and Washington, D.C.), corroborated independently by Montgomery County's own government press release referencing a Maryland PSC investigation into Pepco reliability within the county. Montgomery County is large enough that a smaller portion may fall in a different utility's territory — this record is scoped to the county's Department of Permitting Services as the permitting authority regardless, since permit authority does not vary by utility territory within the county.
Sources & confidence
Generation supplier
Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) (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://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. 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.
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
Sources & confidence
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
Sources & confidence
Official contacts
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 links to EnergySage as an independent third-party resource. This link is not currently tracked for compensation.
Official sources
Official 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 same utility is also listed as the default electricity generation supplier.
How long does a residential solar permit take in Montgomery County?
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.
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.