Sandy, UT Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit routing
- Community Development Dept. review
- Ground-mount height cap
- 6 ft before rooftop mount required
- Ridge/edge setback
- 3 ft minimum on roof mounts
- Reflectivity
- Non-reflective coating required
- Exception path
- Planning Commission special exception
Summary
Sandy treats solar energy systems as an accessory use requiring a building permit routed through the Community Development Department for design review. Roof-mounted panels must sit flush with no visible relief, and ground-mounted units over six feet must move to a rooftop instead.
These regulations shall apply to all solar energy systems, private or public, to the extent that design review is not pre-empted by State or Federal law. Review and Standards. Solar energy systems are allowed as an accessory use to the primary structure on a parcel. All applications for building permits for structures with solar installations shall be forwarded to the Community Development Department for review and approval... Any ground-mounted solar energy system that exceeds six feet in height must be mounted on the roof of either the principle building or an accessory building... Surface flush-mounted solar panels installed in a building with a sloped roof surface shall not project vertically above the peak of the roof to which it is attached. Solar panels mounted on a flat roof shall not project vertically higher than the height of the parapet wall surrounding the roof or shall be screened by architectural features outlined in this title. There shall be a minimum three-foot setback from the ridge or edges of the roof.
Full Breakdown
Section 21-11-22 requires every building permit application for a structure with solar installations to go to the Community Development Department for design review against a specific checklist. Ground-mounted systems are allowed only in side and rear yards, must meet the same setbacks as accessory buildings, and count toward the property's total accessory-building square footage cap; any ground-mounted array taller than six feet must instead be mounted on the roof of the principal or an accessory building. Panels attached to a building follow that building's height and setback limits: roof-integrated or flush-mounted panels can't project above the roof peak on a sloped roof, must stay below the parapet height (or be screened) on a flat roof, and need a minimum three-foot setback from the roof's ridge or edges.
All systems must carry a non-reflective coating that blends with the mounting surface, and any storage batteries must sit in a secure enclosure meeting Fire and Building Code requirements, then be disposed of properly once retired. If a proposed installation can't meet these standards, the Planning Commission can grant a special exception after reviewing a site plan, building elevations, and material samples, and can approve, approve with conditions, or deny the request.
Violations & Fines
Section 21-11-22 requires all solar installations to comply with applicable Fire and Building Codes, including permits and inspections; installing solar equipment without the required building permit or outside the design-review standards is enforceable as a general Code violation under §§ 1-2-2 and 1-2-3, a Class B misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail for an individual, in addition to any building-permit stop-work action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to install solar panels in Sandy?
How tall can a ground-mounted solar array be?
Can panels stick above my roofline?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sandy
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Panel Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle panel permits.