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Annapolis, MD Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit authority
Department of Planning and Zoning
Solar PV permit fee
$10.00 per module
Who may sign application
Licensed master or restricted electrician only
Permit validity
Void if unstarted after 90 days
Violation
Municipal infraction, fine by resolution

Summary

Annapolis requires an electrical permit before installing a solar photovoltaic system, issued by the Department of Planning and Zoning and signed by a licensed electrician, with a $10.00 fee charged per module installed.

Except as provided otherwise in this chapter, no person shall make any installation of electrical equipment or perform any electrical work which is subject to this chapter without first obtaining a permit from the Department of Planning and Zoning.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2025 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

Under Annapolis City Code § 17.16.030, no one may install electrical equipment, including a rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic array, without first obtaining an electrical permit from the Department of Planning and Zoning. The application must be signed by a currently registered master electrician, master electrician limited, or restricted electrician; homeowners cannot self-permit the wiring. The city's fee schedule under § 17.16.040 prices solar PV installations at $10.00 per module, separate from any building permit needed for roof structural work. The permit is void if work doesn't start within 90 days, and expires two years after issuance.

Violations & Fines

Installing solar PV wiring without the permit is a municipal infraction under § 17.16.110(A), fined by City Council resolution; the installation must be removed when the Code Official orders it, and unlicensed work voids inspection sign-off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to install solar panels in Annapolis?
Yes. Any solar photovoltaic installation is electrical work under Annapolis City Code § 17.16.030, so it needs an electrical permit from the Department of Planning and Zoning before work begins.
Can a homeowner file the solar permit application themselves?
No. Section 17.16.030(B) requires the application to be signed by a currently registered master electrician, master electrician limited, or restricted electrician of record, not the property owner.
How much does an Annapolis solar permit cost?
The city's fee schedule under § 17.16.040 charges $10.00 per module for solar photovoltaic systems, in addition to any separate building permit fee for roof-mount structural work.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Annapolis

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All Annapolis rules

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