Michigan / Local permit guide
Ann Arbor Solar Permit Guide
Your local requirements. The official sources. A clearer next step.
- Permit authority
- City of Ann ArborSource linked
- Electric utility
- DTE EnergySource linked
- Local pathway
- Expedited electric-permit-only process (excludes systems with battery storage)Project-specific eligibility conditions apply.
- Review time
- 3–5 daysSee source scope and conditions below.
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Your permit path,
at a glance.
This shows what GridPermit has verified for Ann Arbor. It does not show the status of a specific project.
01 / Know your path
Two approvals.
One project.
A local permit and utility permission to operate are different approvals. Check the local sequence and requirements below.
How to read this guide
GridPermit collects Michigan 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
3–5 days
The City checklist lists a typical 3–5 business-day review for expedited residential solar permits. Non-expedited residential and commercial permits are listed at 5–10 business days; the City notes these are typical, not guaranteed.
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
A genuinely notable finding: Ann Arbor charges no city-side fees at all for approved residential solar permits under its expedited process, though DTE's separate utility interconnection fee still applies.
- City solar permit fees (line item solar fees, application fees, plan reviews): $0 (waived for approved projects under the expedited process)
Per the City's own page, verbatim: 'we do not charge for line item solar fees, application fees, or plan reviews' for approved residential solar projects.
- DTE Energy Rider 18 interconnection application fee, Category 1 (systems ≤20kW): $50 (flat fee)
Per DTE Energy's Level 1 and 2 interconnection procedures (Rider 18 applicant costs) — this is a utility interconnection fee, separate from the City's $0 permitting fee.
Sources & confidence
Rebates on record
Rebates on record
Not yet verified.
Utility and generation supplier
Utility
DTE Energy
DTE Energy is Ann Arbor's well-established dominant electric utility.
Sources & confidence
Generation supplier
DTE 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
DTE's residential interconnection runs through its Rider 18 Distributed Generation Program. DTE's interconnection process overview says the interconnection process takes approximately six weeks, that DTE emails whether an application is approved or needs changes within 10 business days of receiving the application and fee, and that the installer then uploads the construction documents, including an approved electrical inspection sticker, photos, a photo showing the disconnect switch within 5 feet of the meter, and a signed Parallel Operating Agreement, before DTE's site visit; the installer completes DTE's application in PowerClerk. DTE's Level 1 and 2 procedures list a $50 applicant cost for Level 1, defined as a certified project of 20 kWac or less, under Rider 18. These are the utility's steps and durations, not a City of Ann Arbor permit review time.
Inspection steps
Not yet verified.
Eligibility constraints
- Property types: residential
- Max system size (AC): 20 kW
- Max system size (DC): Not yet verified.
- Max thermal capacity: Not yet verified.
- Program/pathway: Expedited electric-permit-only process (excludes systems with battery storage)
- Other conditions:
- Residential rooftop solar installations WITH battery storage are not eligible for the expedited permitting program
- Properties in a historic district require an additional permit, with requirements including all-black panels and hardware
- The 20kW figure recorded here reflects DTE's Rider 18 Category 1 threshold (the tier most residential systems fall under), not a separate City permit-eligibility limit
Sources & confidence
Official contacts
Official contacts
- Energy Coordinator, phone: 734-794-6000, email: cdailey@a2gov.org, official website
Need a solar installer who handles permits in Ann Arbor?
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
- Solar in Ann Arbor, City of Ann Arbor, MI (government). Accessed 2026-08-13.
- Residential Solar Power Generation: Interconnection Process, DTE Energy (utility). Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Solar Panel Interconnection Process Overview (PDF), DTE Energy (utility). Accessed 2026-10-04.
- DTE Electric Generator Interconnection Procedures, Level 1 and 2 Projects (PDF), DTE Energy (utility). Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Solar PV Permitting Checklist — Ann Arbor, City of Ann Arbor (government). Accessed 2026-10-08.
Frequently Asked Questions
What utility serves solar customers in Ann Arbor, Michigan?
DTE Energy is the interconnection and distribution utility for Ann Arbor. The same utility is also listed as the default electricity generation supplier.
How long does a residential solar permit take in Ann Arbor?
The City checklist lists a typical 3–5 business-day review for expedited residential solar permits. Non-expedited residential and commercial permits are listed at 5–10 business days; the City notes these are typical, not guaranteed.
What documents are required for a solar permit in Ann Arbor?
Commonly required documents include: Electric permit (the only permit required for most residential rooftop installations under the expedited process); Roof access and ventilation documentation, per the City's own PDF guide; An additional permit for compliance review (including all-black panels/hardware requirements).
Who do I contact about solar permits in Ann Arbor?
Energy Coordinator, phone 734-794-6000, email cdailey@a2gov.org.