Aurora, CO Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Licensed residential or commercial building contractor
- Setback rule
- Exempt side/rear; barred from front setback
- Height allowance
- Rooftop panels up to 18 inches over limit
- Glare rule
- Concentrator systems must avoid neighbor glare
- Governing law
- UDO § 146-4.2.4; City Code § 22-91
Summary
Aurora requires a building permit issued to a licensed residential or commercial building contractor for solar panel installations, and the Unified Development Ordinance sets siting rules: rooftop panels may exceed the height limit by 18 inches, but front-yard placement is barred.
Accessory solar collector: Exempt from side and rear setbacks except where prohibited by building code. Not permitted in required front setbacks. ... Accessory rooftop solar collectors: May extend up to 18 inches above the height limit for primary structures.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-30, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Aurora treats solar panels as regulated construction. City Code § 22-91 restricts solar energy installations to licensed residential or commercial building contractors, so installers must pull a building permit through one of those license classes. Zoning standards sit in the Unified Development Ordinance: accessory solar collectors are exempt from side and rear setbacks but barred from front setbacks, rooftop units may rise up to 18 inches above the district height limit, and concentrator-type systems must avoid directing glare onto neighboring properties. Colorado has recently expanded state involvement in local solar and land-use rules, so verify current state law alongside the city's process.
Violations & Fines
Installing or altering a solar system without the required building permit is a Code violation under § 1-13, punishable by up to a $2,650 fine, 364 days in jail, or both: each day is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to install rooftop solar panels in Aurora, Colorado?
Can I put solar panels in my front yard in Aurora?
How far above the roofline can rooftop solar panels extend?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aurora
Compare Aurora to another location·View the Colorado solar energy overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Panel Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle panel permits.