Like most home improvement projects, installing solar panels on your rooftop requires inspections and permits. This is especially true in Maryland — a state with notoriously strict guidelines (and fees) regarding building codes and permits.
But why is solar permitting so important?
When you apply for a solar permit, your fees help to cover the building, electrical, and safety inspections that city officials conduct once your solar photovoltaic (PV) system goes live.
These inspections are important for solar installations that aren’t connected to the utility grid. But they’re particularly important for grid-connected PV installations that hope to take advantage of Maryland’s generous solar incentives and net metering program.
Simple enough.
What isn’t always simple, however, is the solar permitting process itself. In Montgomery County, for example, your application must include:
- A copy of the solar panels’ designs and specifications
- Scaled blueprints of the installation
- Detailed schematics of electrical components, wire identifications, sizing, and grounding
Solar permits in Maryland vary by county. Each county has its own solar permitting guidelines — sometimes with pretty substantial differences.
This fractured permitting process can sometimes be overwhelming. In fact, more than 33% of solar installers nationwide agree that solar permitting requirements are 1 of the biggest obstacles to continued growth within the industry.
Do You Personally Have to Apply for Solar Permits in Maryland?
Okay. So solar permits are required in the great state of Maryland. But are you personally required to apply for them by yourself?
It depends.
If you’re installing the solar panels, be prepared to navigate the permitting landscape on your own. And be warned — this tedious paperwork may only be the beginning of your troubles. As we’ve covered in the past, do-it-yourself (DIY) solar installations typically result in:
- higher costs
- shorter life-spans
- less energy output
- more repairs
- greater legal risks
By comparison, if you hire a licensed solar contractor to handle the installation, you maybe in luck. Some solar installers in Maryland take care of all the paperwork for you. Others do not. So when shopping around for installers, be sure to ask whether this value-added service is included.
At Renewable Energy Corporation, our attitude is straightforward: When customers sign up for our services, they want a fully customized solar installation with zero hassles. We handle the permits and the tedious paperwork, such as:
- financing & loan applications
- inspections & safety codes
- incentives & net metering
To have Renewable Energy Corporation handle solar permits on your behalf, click here. We’ll get you started with a free estimate of your solar potential and solar panel installation costs.
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