Long Beach, CA Solar Energy: Expedited Solar Permitting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- LBMC Ch. 18.77
- Solar effective date
- Applications filed on/after 9/30/2015
- Energy storage effective date
- Applications filed on/after 9/30/2023
- Required inspections
- One, unless it fails
- Approval method
- Administrative: no hearing if complete
Summary
Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 18.77 creates a mandatory expedited permitting track for residential solar energy and energy storage systems, applying to solar applications filed on or after September 30, 2015 and storage-system applications on or after September 30, 2023. Installations eligible for the streamlined process get only one inspection.
A.Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to promote and encourage the installation and use of solar energy systems and energy storage systems by limiting obstacles to their use and minimizing the permitting costs of such system. Consistent with Sections 65850.5, 65850.52, 65850.55, 65850.8, and 66015 of the California Government Code, this chapter creates an expedited permitting process for solar energy systems and energy storage systems.B.Permits required. Solar energy systems and energy storage systems shall not be installed or used without first having obtained a permit as required by Section 18.04.010. ... F.Effective date. This chapter shall apply to projects for the installation and use of solar energy systems submitted on or after September 30, 2015, and energy storage systems submitted on or after September 30, 2023.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
8, and 66015. 040 provides that solar systems eligible for expedited permitting get only one inspection by the Building Official and/or Fire Code Official, with a follow-up inspection allowed only if the first inspection fails, and the Building Official and Fire Code Official may consolidate their inspections at their discretion. 030 modifies that process: once an application and supporting documents satisfy the Building Official's checklist and standard plan, the application is deemed complete and the Building Official must administratively approve it and issue the permit, no discretionary hearing.
If the application is incomplete, the Building Official must issue a written correction notice detailing every deficiency. 55 and 66015. The Building Official must publish the required checklist and standard plan, conformed to the state's Solar Permitting Guidebook, on a publicly accessible website.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 18.77 does not itself set a separate penalty schedule; installing or using a solar energy or energy storage system without the permit required by § 18.77.010.B is enforced as an unpermitted-construction violation under the City's general Building Standards Code (Title 18) permit and inspection provisions, and the permit issued under this chapter remains subject to the standard validity rules of § 18.04.050.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Long Beach require a hearing to approve a home solar permit?
How many inspections will my solar installation get?
What state law does Long Beach's streamlined solar chapter implement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California solar energy overview
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