Do I need a solar permit in Orlando? Yes: one electrical permit for rooftop PV, two inspections, and the fee formula

This is the City of Orlando, not unincorporated Orange County, Winter Park or other nearby cities, which issue their own permits.

Which permit for which system

From the City's Solar Plan Review Checklist (read 26 October 2026): "For new and existing residential projects, only the applicable trade application is required."

A home in a historic district or a designated landmark needs a Certificate of Appropriateness first. A battery is reviewed on the same PV permit: the checklist asks for a summary of standby loads to show "that inverter and battery selection will meet the standby needs."

What the City wants on the plans

• A roof plan, the FSEC document, and a panel attachment detail with product approvals for the minimum wind speed, for every solar type.
• For PV: an electrical diagram of the array, wiring, overcurrent protection, inverter disconnect, grounding, signs and the AC connection, with the disconnect identified per the fire code; spec sheets for modules, inverters, combiner and racking; attachment and flashing details "sealed by the appropriate design professional"; and wire-sizing calculations.
• A notarized owner's signature or a signed contract in lieu of notary.
• For jobs over $5,000, "a recorded notice of commencement is required prior to permit issuance." Nearly every system qualifies: the usual permit is $25,266.

Who pulls it

The checklist says a "Solar contractor may obtain all solar permits listed above", an electrical contractor may obtain the photovoltaic electrical permit, and a plumbing contractor the solar thermal permit. The contractor must be registered with the City. The checklist names only contractors; if you plan to install your own system, ask Permitting Services (407-246-2271) first. Check the installer's state license on DBPR's Verify a Licensee; 94.2% of solar filers in our file matched an active Florida license.

What it costs

From the City's Permitting Development Fees - Residential (1 or 2 units), effective January 2026:

On a $25,000 system that is $66.24 + 24 x $11.03 = $330.96 before surcharges. A plumbing permit for solar thermal is priced on its own line.

Your HOA

Florida Statutes § 163.04 (read 26 October 2026) says a deed restriction or covenant "may not prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting" solar collectors, and that a property owner "may not be denied permission to install solar collectors". The association "may determine the specific location where solar collectors may be installed on the roof" within 45 degrees east or west of due south, as long as that "does not impair the effective operation of the solar collectors."

What 1,015 Orlando solar permits show

Orlando's solar market has thinned: 138 names filed solar permits over three years, but only 55 filed one in the last 12 months, and 22 firms with five or more permits filed none in that year. A solar warranty runs for decades, so check that an installer is still filing before you sign. Some of the busiest names on recent permits read as inspection companies rather than installers, so check which company is the contractor on your permit. Prices by system size are on the Orlando solar cost page.

See every Orlando solar installer by recent permits →

Related

Other cities' rules: do I need a permit for solar panels. National prices: solar panel installation cost and solar lease vs buy. Choosing the installer: hiring a solar installer. Licenses: Orlando contractor license lookup. Past permits on your house: Orlando building permit search. Monthly counts: Orlando permit statistics.

What this does not tell you

Our solar group is City of Orlando permits on homes classified as solar; we do not have a reliable finished share for it, so days to final cover only permits that reached final. Filed values are the applicant's estimate. Interconnection with your electric utility is a separate process not covered here.