Solar Energy in Illinois (2026)
32 rules on the books across Illinois, 26 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Panel Permits
Permits required for installing rooftop or ground-mounted solar panels, including electrical inspections and interconnection approvals.
Illinois: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsIllinois protects residential solar energy installations through the Homeowners Energy Policy Statement Act and limits…
Read full rule →Macon County
Significant RestrictionsMacon County requires a County Board special use permit before any grid-scale commercial solar energy facility is…
Read full rule →Mclean County
Significant RestrictionsCommercial solar energy generating facilities in unincorporated McLean County need a construction permit from the…
Read full rule →Arlington Heights
Some RestrictionsSolar panels in Arlington Heights, Illinois must clear detailed bulk limits before installation: roof-mounted equipment…
Read full rule →Aurora
Some RestrictionsAurora, Illinois (Kane County) requires a building permit and plan approval before installing any solar energy system…
Read full rule →Chicago
Some RestrictionsChicago requires a stand-alone electrical permit for solar panel installation, with a flat $225 fee for systems under…
Read full rule →Cook County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Cook County, rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV systems must use an engineered mounting structure…
Read full rule →DuPage County
Some RestrictionsDuPage County's Building Code names solar panel arrays outright among the equipment installations that need a formal…
Read full rule →Elgin
Some RestrictionsElgin requires a building permit for solar energy systems, backed by standard structural drawings and, for…
Read full rule →Evanston
Some RestrictionsEvanston treats solar collectors as a permitted accessory use in every zoning district, no special-use hearing…
Read full rule →Kane County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Kane County requires a building permit for any roof-mounted or ground-installed solar-electric system…
Read full rule →Kendall County
Some RestrictionsEvery private solar energy system in unincorporated Kendall County needs a county building permit and administrative…
Read full rule →Lake County
Some RestrictionsRoof-mounted solar panels need only standard building permits; small ground-mounted systems on residential lots are…
Read full rule →Mchenry County
Some RestrictionsRooftop and ground-mounted solar panels in unincorporated McHenry County are permitted under the county's amended 2021…
Read full rule →Naperville
Some RestrictionsNaperville requires a City building permit before installing any solar energy system, per Municipal Code section…
Read full rule →Peoria County
Some RestrictionsGround-mounted solar panels are a permitted accessory use anywhere in unincorporated Peoria County, but a homeowner…
Read full rule →Rock Island County
Some RestrictionsA private solar installation is a by-right accessory use in every zoning district in unincorporated Rock Island County…
Read full rule →Sangamon County
Some RestrictionsInstalling a residential solar energy system in unincorporated Sangamon County requires a building permit, with a fee…
Read full rule →Schaumburg
Some RestrictionsVillage Code § 154.70(A) treats solar panels as an accessory structure: before you pull a building permit, you must…
Read full rule →Skokie
Some RestrictionsSkokie requires a building permit for every roof or ground mounted solar energy system under Village Code Section…
Read full rule →St. Clair County
Some RestrictionsSt. Clair County allows personal solar panel systems as an accessory use in every zoning district, but the Building and…
Read full rule →Tazewell County
Some RestrictionsTazewell County requires a building permit for every ground mount and roof mount solar energy system installed as an…
Read full rule →Waukegan
Some RestrictionsRooftop and ground-mounted accessory solar energy systems need a Building Permit in every Waukegan zoning district…
Read full rule →Will County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Will County allows building-mounted and ground-mounted solar systems as accessory uses, but sets height…
Read full rule →Winnebago County
Some RestrictionsWinnebago County allows private solar panels by right in every zoning district, but roof-mounted arrays over 15 feet or…
Read full rule →Champaign County
Light RestrictionsRoof-mounted solar arrays need no zoning permit in unincorporated Champaign County. Ground-mounted PV arrays under one…
Read full rule →Peoria
Light RestrictionsSolar energy devices are a permitted residential accessory structure in Peoria under Unified Development Code Section…
Read full rule →HOA Restrictions
State and local laws that limit what HOAs can restrict when it comes to solar panel installation, placement, and appearance.
Illinois: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsIllinois voids any association bylaw, board action, deed restriction or covenant that prohibits or has the effect of…
Read full rule →Peoria County
Some RestrictionsIllinois' Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act bars any homeowners', common-interest, or condominium association in…
Read full rule →Champaign County
Few RestrictionsIllinois law protects solar in HOA neighborhoods. The Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act bars a Champaign County…
Read full rule →Chicago
Few RestrictionsIllinois law (765 ILCS 165, the Solar Rights Act) protects homeowners' right to install solar energy systems. HOAs and…
Read full rule →Expedited Solar Permitting
California SB-379 (and equivalent laws) requiring cities to offer same-day or near-same-day automated solar permits, plus SolarAPP+ adoption.