Folsom, CA Solar Energy: Expedited Solar Permitting (2026)
Key Facts
- State mandate
- Gov. Code Sec. 65850.5 / AB 2188 (2014)
- Adoption deadline met
- By September 30, 2015
- System size cap
- 10 kW AC / 30 kW thermal
- Required inspections
- One, within 2 business days
- HOA approval
- Cannot be required (Civ. Code 4080)
Summary
Folsom's building division must administratively approve a small residential rooftop solar system application the same day it is confirmed complete and run just one inspection, finished within two business days, under the state-mandated expedited process it adopted in Chapter 14.34.
The purpose of this chapter is to adopt a solar permitting process that complies with the Solar Rights Act and AB 2188 (Chapter 521, Statutes 2014) to implement California Government Code Section 65850.5 which provides that, on or before September 30, 2015, every city, county, or city and county shall adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems. ... For a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review, only one inspection shall be required, which shall be conducted within two business days and may include a consolidated inspection by the building division and the fire department.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 1369, passed April 28, 2026).
Full Breakdown
5 and AB 2188 (2014), which required every California city to have an expedited, streamlined solar permitting ordinance in place by September 30, 2015. 010 states the chapter's purpose is to remove unreasonable barriers and minimize costs for property owners installing solar while protecting public health and safety, and it directs the chief building official to adopt a checklist of every requirement a system must meet to qualify for expedited review. 030(C) as systems no larger than 10 kilowatts AC nameplate rating or 30 kilowatts thermal, installed on a single or duplex family dwelling, and not exceeding the city's maximum legal building height.
050: once the building division confirms an application and its fees are complete, it must administratively approve the application and issue all required permits, with no discretionary hearing and no HOA approval required as a condition (citing Civil Code Section 4080). Only one inspection is required for an eligible system, and it must be conducted within two business days, potentially combining building division and fire department review in a single visit. 050(G).
Violations & Fines
If the chief building official requires a use permit under Section 14.34.050(E) based on substantial evidence of a specific, adverse health or safety impact, the applicant can appeal that decision to the planning commission, and review is limited strictly to local, state and federal health and safety requirements. A denied use permit under Section 14.34.050(F) must include written findings showing there is no feasible way to mitigate the adverse impact, and the city cannot simply reject an application for aesthetic or discretionary reasons outside that health-and-safety standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast must Folsom process a small residential solar permit?
Can Folsom require an HOA to approve my solar permit application?
When can Folsom require a discretionary use permit for solar instead of the expedited process?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Folsom
California rules heatmap·Compare Folsom to another location·View the California solar energy overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Expedited Solar Permitting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle expedited solar permitting.