eSolar: the fast route
From DPS's eSolar page (read 24 October 2026). eSolar "expedites the issuance of solar permits" for residential rooftop systems installed by approved contractors, using approved third-party services, currently SolarAPP+.
| eSolar | Rule |
|---|---|
| Eligible | Residential main structures, up to 400A main service, 225A service disconnect and 225A busbar; may add battery storage |
| Not eligible | Ballasted roof systems, commercial properties, townhouses four or more stories above grade, properties with municipal site restrictions, historic properties |
| Who applies | Solar installers who completed approved third-party training and hold a valid Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license |
| Documents | Design through SolarAPP+, certified documents uploaded to DPS ePlans; hard copies on site for the inspector |
| Issue | "the permit is issued immediately and electronically" once paid |
| Electrical permit | Separate, required before work starts; keep both on site until complete |
| Inspections | Requested online at least 24 hours ahead with the permit number and Contact ID |
A job that misses any condition goes through the standard building permit process. Check the address for municipal zoning or historic status before filing.
Who pulls the electrical permit
DPS's electrician license fact sheet says the applicant for an electrical permit "must have a valid Master license issued by the Maryland State Board of Electricians". So the solar company needs both an MHIC license for eSolar and a master electrician for the wiring permit.
Fees
The building permit carries a non-refundable filing fee; the eSolar page links the fee schedule without amounts. On the electrical side, DPS's FY27 fee schedule (1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027) puts alternative energy sources under the new-construction tiers: $286.06 up to 200 amps, $416.65 for 201 to 400, and $559.68 over 400, for estimation only.
What 7,854 Montgomery County solar permits show
From Montgomery County solar permits, October 2024 to September 2026:
| Measure | Montgomery County solar |
|---|---|
| Issued | 7,854 (14% of all county permits) |
| Last 12 months / 12 months before | 4,070 / 3,784 (+8%) |
| Filed as electrical permits / single-family building alterations | 3,994 / 3,627 |
| Finished, permits issued Oct 2024–Sep 2025 | 80.7% |
| Usual days, issue to final (middle half) | 48 (29–83) |
| Usual declared value (middle half) | $23,000 ($13,851–$34,000) |
| Busiest / quietest month (index) | October (134) / January (73) |
| ZIPs with the most | 20906 (522), 20902 (457), 20904 (456) |
Because each install gets a building and an electrical permit, the 7,854 count is close to twice the number of houses. Solar rose 8% in the last 12 months while county HVAC permits fell 4%. Filing climbs from July and peaks in October; the first four months of the year are the quiet ones. The leading ZIPs are in the Silver Spring and Wheaton area, not Bethesda. More on county permit statistics, how long permits take and browse county permits.
Before you hire
Search the address in DPS eSearch with the Montgomery County building permit search guide, and check the installer's MHIC license with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. National rules are in do I need a permit for solar panels; filed prices elsewhere in solar panel installation cost. The wiring rules are in Montgomery County electrical permits.
What this does not tell you
The county's files name no installer, so there are no firm lists. Solar on the electrical side is found by searching permit descriptions for solar or photovoltaic, so a permit that does not mention either is missed. Rockville and Gaithersburg permits are largely missing. Utility interconnection is a separate approval.
How we know this
Rules are quoted from DPS's eSolar Residential Rooftop Solar Panels page, its electrician license fact sheet and its FY27 Electrical and Mechanical fee schedule, read 24 October 2026. Our counts are dataMontgomery's Residential and Electrical Building permits, read 19 October 2026: permits issued October 2024 to September 2026 whose description names solar or photovoltaic panels.
Numbers come from public permit records in 57 cities, data through October 19, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Do I need a permit for solar panels in Montgomery County, MD?
Yes, two: a building permit for the rooftop system and a separate electrical permit, both obtained before work starts and kept on site until the project is complete.
- What is eSolar in Montgomery County?
The DPS program for residential rooftop solar by approved contractors. The design goes through SolarAPP+, the certified documents are uploaded to DPS ePlans, and once paid the permit is issued immediately and electronically.
- Who can use eSolar?
Licensed solar installers who completed training from an approved third-party provider and hold a valid Maryland Home Improvement Commission license. Ballasted roofs, townhouses four or more stories, historic properties and properties with municipal site restrictions use the standard process.
- How long does a solar permit take in Montgomery County?
Through eSolar it is issued on payment. From issue to the county's final inspection, the usual solar permit issued October 2024 to September 2025 took 48 days; the middle half took 29 to 83 days.
- What do Montgomery County solar systems cost?
The usual declared value on a solar building permit was $23,000, and the middle half $13,851 to $34,000, from 3,859 permits with a value. That is the value written at application, not the final bill.
Build your own list
Pick your city and the kind of work. Every firm with a permit on record, sorted by what you value.
Related guides
- Albuquerque building permit search: how to look up permits on an address
- Building a casita in Albuquerque: the 750 sq ft limit, rear-yard rule, parking, free plans, and who builds them
- Do I need a permit to build a house in Albuquerque? GB-2 or homeowner, the plan set and the fee
- Do I need a solar permit in Albuquerque? Building and electrical permits, the engineer triggers and the fee
- eSolar Residential Rooftop Solar Panels — Montgomery County DPS (2026-10-24)
- Electrical and Mechanical Fees (FY27) — Montgomery County DPS (2026-10-24)
- What You Need to Know About Electrician Licenses and Permits — Montgomery County DPS (2026-10-24)
- Residential Permit (m88u-pqki) — dataMontgomery (2026-10-19)
- Electrical Building Permits (qxie-8qnp) — dataMontgomery (2026-10-19)