Montgomery County, MD Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Solar panel installations in Montgomery County require both a building permit and an electrical permit from the Department of Permitting Services (DPS). The county has adopted a streamlined solar permit review process to encourage renewable energy adoption, with typical review times of 5-10 business days for standard residential rooftop systems. Rooftop solar panels are permitted as an accessory use in all zoning districts. Ground-mounted solar arrays must comply with accessory structure setback requirements. Maryland Public Utilities Article 7-603 prohibits homeowner associations from restricting solar energy devices, though HOAs may impose reasonable aesthetic requirements that do not significantly increase cost or reduce efficiency. Montgomery County does not impose a solar access setback or solar easement requirement but property owners may voluntarily record solar access easements. Net metering is available from Pepco (serving most of the county) and BGE (northern portion) under Maryland PSC regulations, allowing residential systems up to 2 MW to receive credits for excess generation at the retail rate. Maryland offers a residential solar property tax exemption under Tax-Property Article 7-242 (solar equipment is exempt from property tax assessment). The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) of 30 percent applies to residential solar installations through 2032. Montgomery County participates in the Solarize Montgomery group-purchasing program periodically. Systems over 10 kW may require a structural engineering review. Historic district installations require HAWP approval from the Historic Preservation Commission.