Solano County, CA Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

3, Sec. 3-16, applies to "small residential rooftop solar energy systems," defined in Sec. 020(b) as systems no larger than 10 kilowatts alternating current (or 30 kilowatts thermal), installed on a single- or duplex-family dwelling, conforming to applicable state fire, structural, and electrical codes and to standards set by the California Electrical Code, IEEE, and accredited testing labs, and not exceeding the county's maximum legal building height. The application process in Sec. 030 requires the checklist and standard plan from the current California Solar Permitting Guidebook published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.

That checklist and the application forms must be posted on the county website, and the county must accept both electronic submittal (email, internet, or facsimile per Sec. 020(a)) and electronic signatures in place of a wet signature. Once an application is confirmed complete, county staff reviews it to confirm the system meets local, state, and federal health and safety requirements; Sec. 030(c) specifically bars staff from conditioning approval on sign-off from a homeowners' association as defined in Civil Code Section 4080. On the inspection side, Sec.

030(d) limits the county to one timely inspection for systems eligible for expedited review, apart from a separate fire inspection if one is needed; if the system fails, a follow-up inspection is allowed but does not have to meet the one-inspection limit. The whole framework traces to Sec. 010, which states the section exists to implement California's Solar Rights Act as amended by Assembly Bill 2188 (Chapter 521, Statutes of 2014), so that residential solar installations move through the county quickly and at lower cost while still meeting health and safety standards.