Prince George's County, MD Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Codes applied
- 2021 IFC, NFPA 70, NFPA 1
- Residential permit fee
- $158 or $0.03 per watt
- Ground array perimeter
- 10 ft noncombustible surface required
- Fire access limit
- Within 500 ft of access road
- Security barrier
- Required around ground-mounted arrays
- Unpermitted fine
- $1,000 per violation, per day
Summary
Prince George's County requires a DPIE building permit for solar energy systems under Section 4-210 of the County Code, which layers the 2021 International Fire Code and NFPA 70 and NFPA 1 onto every installation. Residential rooftop or ground-mounted panels carry a $158 permit fee, or $0.03 per watt if that is higher, under the county's Table of Fees.
(a)Section 3111.1 General. Solar energy systems shall comply with the requirements of this section, 2021 International Fire Code (IFC), and the 2021 National Fire Protection (NFPA) 1 Fire Code. The most stringent code shall apply.(b)Section 3111.3 Photovoltaic solar energy systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with this section, the International Fire Code, NFPA 70, National Fire Protection (NFPA 1) Fire Code and the manufacturer's installation instructions. ... Table of Fees, § 2-253.63: "Solar Panels (Roof-mounted) - Residential $158 Total Fee = Administrative Fee $66 + Building Permit Fee ($0.03 per watt or $158, whichever is greater) + $5 MNCPPC. Plus Technology Fee 10%"
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2026 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Section 4-210 adopts Section 3111 of the amended building code to govern solar energy systems countywide. Subsection (a) requires every solar energy system to comply with the section itself, the 2021 International Fire Code, and the 2021 NFPA 1 Fire Code, applying whichever standard is most stringent. Subsection (b) adds that photovoltaic systems must also follow NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code, and the manufacturer's installation instructions. The rule reaches beyond rooftop panels: ground-mounted solar fields need a noncombustible perimeter surface at least ten feet wide between the panels and a required security barrier, or a fifteen-foot brush-free stabilized surface with an approved Vegetation Maintenance Plan, and dirt with only minor growth does not count as noncombustible under Subsection (c).
Subsection (d) requires an Authority Having Jurisdiction-approved Vegetation Maintenance Plan or noncombustible base under and around the arrays, and Subsection (e) caps the distance from any point in a solar array to a fire department access road at 500 feet, absent a director-approved exemption for sloped sites. Subsection (g) requires security barriers around the perimeter of ground-mounted arrays, and Subsection (h) requires a sign on that fence listing the property address and the solar installer's name and phone number. 63.
Violations & Fines
Installing a solar energy system without the required DPIE permit, or without meeting the fire and vegetation-management standards in Section 4-210, is enforced under the same building-code penalty in Section 4-116: a $1,000 civil fine per violation, with each day of noncompliant installation counted as a separate offense, due within 30 days and recordable as a lien on the property if it goes unpaid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to install rooftop solar panels in PG County?
What fire code applies to solar panel installations?
Does a ground-mounted solar array need a fence?
How close does a home solar array need to be to a fire access road?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince George's County
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