Smithtown, NY Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential rooftop solar fee
- $175 flat
- Ground-mounted solar fee
- $320 for up to 20 panels
- Additional ground panel rate
- $2.50/panel over 20, cap $27,000
- Commercial rooftop solar fee
- $14/panel, cap $2,225
- Fast-track program
- Repealed December 3, 2024
Summary
Smithtown treats solar panels as standard permitted construction rather than fast-tracked work: the Town repealed its solar fast-track program in 2024, and installers now pay set fees under the regular building permit schedule, $175 flat for a residential rooftop system and a per-panel rate for ground-mounted arrays.
Residential rooftop-mounted solar panels: $175. ... Installation of ground-mounted solar panels: $320 for up to 20 panels; $320 plus $2.50 per panel in excess of 20 panels, not to exceed $27,000.
Full Breakdown
3, the residential solar energy fast track application process that had been added in 2011, on December 3, 2024 by Local Law No. 15-2024. Fees are set in § 112-11. Residential rooftop-mounted solar panels are billed a flat $175 permit fee (§ 112-11(1)(g)). 50 for each additional panel beyond 20, capped at $27,000 total (§ 112-11(3)(c)). Commercial rooftop-mounted solar panels are charged per panel rather than a flat fee: $14 per panel, not to exceed $2,225 (§ 112-11(2)(l)). As with any building permit, applicants must file with the Chief Building Inspector on Town forms describing the proposed installation and its location, and no permit issues until the applicable fee is paid in full.
Because solar arrays are treated as construction under the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code adopted at § 112-1, installations must also satisfy that code's structural and electrical requirements in addition to paying the fee scheduled here.
Violations & Fines
Installing rooftop or ground-mounted solar panels without the required building permit is unpermitted construction under § 112-23, carrying a fine of $1,000 to $2,500 for a first offense and rising to $4,000-$15,000 or up to six months in jail for a third offense within five years, with each day of the unpermitted installation counted as a separate violation. The Chief Building Inspector can also require removal or retrofitting to bring the system into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a residential solar panel permit in Smithtown?
Is there still a fast-track process for solar permits in Smithtown?
What does a commercial solar installation cost to permit in Smithtown?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Smithtown
New York rules heatmap·Compare Smithtown to another location·View the New York solar energy overview
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Panel Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Suffolk County handle panel permits.