Omaha, NE Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

The Fire Code of the City of Omaha, adopted under Chapter 46 of the Omaha Municipal Code, amends Section 105.7 of the International Fire Code to add subsection 105.7.13, which flatly requires a construction permit to install or modify a solar photovoltaic power system. This is on top of the standard building permit review by the Permits and Inspections Division. Separately, if a solar installation ties into plumbing (a solar thermal collector array or an associated storage tank), the Plumbing Code fee schedule at Sec. 49-304 sets a specific permit fee for that equipment: $11.35 per solar collector array and $7.95 per storage tank incorporated into a solar energy system, on top of the $22.70 minimum permit fee. Homeowners installing rooftop PV panels should expect to pull both an electrical/building permit and, if fire code triggers apply, a fire code construction permit before work begins.