East Baton Rouge Parish, LA Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Solar photovoltaic installations on a home in East Baton Rouge Parish fall under Sec. 8:500 of the Code of Ordinances, which requires any owner or owner's authorized agent who intends to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system to first apply to the building official and obtain a permit before work starts. The fee schedule at Sec. 00) technology fee under Sec. 8:801(31). To apply, Sec. 8:505 requires a written or electronic application describing the work, the property, its intended use, the required construction documents, and the valuation of the proposed installation.

Sec. 8:506 gives the building official a reasonable time to examine the application and either reject it in writing with stated reasons or issue the permit once it conforms to Title 8. Under Sec. 8:507, an application not pursued in good faith is deemed abandoned one hundred eighty (180) days after filing, though the building official can grant extensions of up to ninety (90) days on written request. Once issued, Sec. 8:509 makes the permit invalid if the solar installation is not started within one hundred eighty (180) days, or is abandoned for one hundred eighty (180) days after work begins, again with discretionary extensions for justifiable cause.