Do I need a solar permit in San Diego? The self-issued PV permit, the 38.4 kW limit and the fees

The San Diego rule

Information Bulletin 301 (read 23 October 2026) says "An Electrical Permit is required for the installation of photovoltaic (PV)" systems, including batteries and PV shingles. If the house needs structural work for the array, it becomes a combination building permit instead, with no separate electrical permit.

For a single-family home, duplex or townhouse, the City's residential rooftop PV permit is self-issued with no plan review when all of these hold:

The City adds that "The previous requirement for professional certification is no longer required." Systems on other building types need an electrical permit with plans, and ground mounts or building modifications a building permit.

Who pulls it

Usually the installer. California licenses solar contractors through CSLB: the C-46 Solar class, or a C-10 Electrical contractor for the electrical side (CSLB). IB 301 says PV and battery plans may be signed by a California civil or electrical engineer, or by a licensed C-10, B or C-46 contractor. A homeowner doing the work as owner-builder submits the City's DS-3042 owner-builder verification form.

How to apply

1. Prepare the plan set on the City's Residential Solar PV Project Plan Template.
2. Check the PDFs against the City's upload requirements and validate them in Scout, the City's file checker; non-compliant files delay review.
3. Apply in the City's Accela portal (aca.accela.com/SANDIEGO), choosing the "Photovoltaic – SB 379 Permit" option.
4. Pay the fees; the permit is issued without plan review if the project qualifies.
5. Schedule inspections. IB 301 lists electrical underground, rough and final, and structural foundation, rough and final where they apply. "The system is not approved to energize until SDG&E approval is obtained."

What it costs

From IB 301:

So a qualifying rooftop system costs $275.80 in City fees, or $430.00 with plan review, plus mapping where it applies. The City's page says "No exemptions" on fees. Plan check fees are non-refundable, and express plan check is not offered for single-family homes. San Diego's solar permits record no job value; national prices are in solar panel installation cost.

What 10,027 San Diego solar permits show

The permit is easy to get; the final is where San Diego falls short. Only 73.3% of solar permits a year or more old reached a final inspection, and 18 of the 78 installers with 10 or more permits finished under 70%. A solar permit without a final is a system the City never signed off, and it stays open on your address. Before signing, look up the installer's finished share, and put "final inspection passed" in the payment schedule.

See every San Diego solar installer by finals and CSLB license →

Next steps

Compare installers on the San Diego solar list and follow hiring a solar installer in San Diego for the CSLB and CPUC checks; license steps are in the San Diego contractor license lookup. Find permits on your address with the City's Permit Finder or OpenDSD, both listed in IB 110, or our San Diego building permit search guide. Other cities' rules: do I need a permit for solar panels. Monthly counts: San Diego permit statistics.

What this does not tell you

This is the City of San Diego only; Chula Vista, Escondido and the other cities, and the unincorporated county, issue their own permits. A final inspection is the City's sign-off, not the utility's permission to operate, and says nothing about production or financing terms.