Solar panel installations in unincorporated Orange County require a building permit from OC Development Services. The County participates in SolarAPP+ for streamlined instant permitting of qualifying residential rooftop solar systems. Standard plan review for non-qualifying systems takes 2-4 weeks.
Residential solar photovoltaic installations in unincorporated Orange County require a building permit under the California Building Code as adopted by the County. OC Development Services processes solar permits and participates in the SolarAPP+ automated permitting platform, which provides instant permits for qualifying residential rooftop systems that meet predefined structural and electrical criteria. For systems that do not qualify for SolarAPP+, applicants must submit a Solar Panel Permit Application with a basic plot plan, structural calculations, electrical single-line diagram, and equipment specifications. Standard plan review takes approximately 2-4 weeks. California's Solar Mandate (2020 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, Title 24 Part 6) requires new residential construction to include solar photovoltaic systems. Ground-mounted solar arrays may require additional zoning review for setback compliance. Inspections are required before system interconnection with the utility.
Installing solar panels without a permit is a building code violation subject to stop-work orders, removal requirements, and administrative penalties through OC Development Services code enforcement. Unpermitted electrical work poses additional liability. Permit fees are typically modest for residential solar installations.
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