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solar permit service; NEC code compliant system documents
- Design, Permit Document Service.
- Blue Pacific Solar® permit document service is offered as a value added service for our customers only who purchase our grid-tied or off-grid packages of 18 panels [Minimum] or more. The building permit document
service is available for most states to help you get through your local jurisdiction building permit process. Our
team of professional designers can provide the documents, blueprints and expertise needed to work with any building department nationwide. We have a data bank of information for most jurisdictions in the country and can produce the design documents
necessary to secure a solar building permit. - Only: Buy Now
The fee paid to the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for the actual permit is not included in the
price of the design service. Additionally, the fees associated with this service are only for grid tie or off grid systems. AC coupled backup systems are a combination of both and require a custom quote for the permit document service.
Here is How it Works
After purchasing the solar design service along with your solar kit, Blue Pacific Solar's® team of designers will get cracking. First you're Team Captain assigned to coordinate your order will fill out the equipment part of simple site survey questionnaire. He or she will highlight the questions that you will need to answer specific to your home such as distance to the array and size of main breaker panel. You fill out those site specific questions, take about 6 pictures and send back the information.
Don't worry, if you have trouble with some of the questions, our staff is standing by to help.
Our experienced team of system designers will then apply our comprehensive database of local nationwide permit requirements including any amended designs that may be required by AHJ (Authority having jurisdiction (Usually Local Building Department)). We coordinate the application with your local building department jurisdiction custom drafting the plans that will be needed along with the specifications and other documents to submit to secure your installation building permit.
Here is What You Get
Three (3) complete sets of plans and required support documents, data sheet and installation manuals required. The drawing sheet size is 24” x 18” (Unless specified different by local AHJ) which include the following:
- Cover Page
- Sheet index
- Governing Codes section
- Vicinity map, parcel map, aerial view
- General description of project
- PV Layout
- Includes locations for all major hardware and electrical components with respect to property lines and existing structures
- Attachment point or pier spacing
- Conduit runs
- Solar PV array location and dimensions
- Mounting Method
- (AKA one (1) "elevation"): Elevation of attachment method (to roof or grade, depending on application)
- Weather-proofing details (flashing, sealant, roof type, etc.)
- Racking and mounting hardware
- Foundation details (if applicable)
- Wiring Diagram
- Full instructive three-line diagram of entire DC circuit, as well as AC lines to your metered service entrance.
- Wire and conduit sizing
- String / Branch circuit sizing for DC and AC systems
- Grounding details
- Interconnection method (breaker, line-side splice, subpanels, etc.)
- All calculations per NEC shown explicitly (conduit fill, temperature coefficients, etc.) including voltage drop calculations
- System specifications: max system voltage, operating voltage, max system current, operating current, for both DC and AC systems
- All Equipment Specifications and Installation Manuals.
- Additional follow up additional plan information or corrections as required AHJ (Authority having jurisdiction (Usually Local Building Department). The basic permit document service does NOT include engineering or structural wet stamp if required. (See Below)
We then express ship your drawings and documents to you. All you have to do after that is take the permit document package along with our instructions down to your local AHJ (Authority having jurisdiction (Usually Local Building Department)), sign the application as owner/contractor (self-install) and they will notify you when the permit has been approved.
Plans / permit documents are usually completed in about 10 business days from submittal of your site survey (Subject to Seasonal Increases).
Once the permit has been approved you pay the fee (not included in the service) directly to the local AHJ and follow the local building officials instructions for inspections.
The Permit Document Service is only available to customers who purchase our grid-tied or off-grid kits.
NOTE: Our relationship in the design and sale of any equipment or material is that of a material supplier with limited knowledge of actual site conditions or application. It is the sole
responsibility of the buyer to verify that the components will work for the actual installation conditions, local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction (Code Officials)) NEC and local code and any applicable safety
codes, solar permit laws, local utility & AHJ rules and regulations.
READ THIS PLEASE: If your AHJ (Authority having jurisdiction, (Usually Local Building Department)) requires a
ground or roof rack custom site specific structural analysis from a Professional State Registered Engineer (PE Wet Stamp on the Plans) and will not accept the IronRidge PE wet stamped document that is available free for most states; we will be happy to provide a non-site visit PE wet stamp for an additional fee.
Additional site specific engineering calculation sheet and wet stamp services, structural or electrical, are
NOT included in the cost of the basic permit document service.
| Project Size Up to 10 kW | (Add on Service) Electrical Professional Engineer Review |
Price | |
| PE-EL-Stamp | Electrical Professional State Registered Engineer Non-Site Visit Electrical Plan Review and Wet Stamp on Plans. Electrical PE Services Available in: CA, AZ, HI, WA, CO, NM, OH, MD, TX. (Only Available as Add On with Blue Pacific Solar® Permit Document Service.) |
| Project Size Up to 10 kW | (Add on Service) Structural Analysis Professional Engineer Review |
Price | |
| PE-ST-Stamp | Ground or Roof Rack Structural Analysis Professional State Registered Engineer Non-Site Visit or Custom Soil Analysis Plan Review; Wet Stamp on Plans, Wet Sealed Certification Letter, Does Not Include a Full Set of Calculations Which are Available for an Additional Fee. (Only Available as Add On with Blue Pacific Solar® Permit Document Service.) |
Structural Analysis PE Service Available for These States: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, HI, IL, IN, IA, LA, ME, MI, MN, MO, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA. "Non-Site Review" Means the Installation Structural PE Review Does NOT Include A Site Visit but is Done From the Plan Set Which is Based From Information Provided By the Customer.
Fees associated with the design and permitting of your system can be included as part of the cost of installing your solar system and qualify for the 30% federal tax credit.
| Project Size | Commercial & Industrial Design | Price | |
| 10-24 kW | Includes items described above for 10 - 24 kW commercial application; Cover, Site Plan and Panel Layout; Electrical Layout; Electrical Diagram; Safety Place cards; Equipment Data Sheet (Does not include PE stamps) | ||
| 25-55 kW | Includes items described above for 25 - 55 kW commercial application; Cover, Site Plan and Panel Layout; Electrical Layout; Electrical Diagram; Safety Place cards; Equipment Data Sheet (Does not include PE stamps) |
SAFETY WARNING:
Danger to life due to high voltages. Risk of death or serious injury due to electric shock. Always employ the services of a licensed local electrician or other properly trained and qualified persons to
complete final connections.
solar permit home system plans design consulting electrical engineering pv city permitting
Homeowners installing their own solar panel kits or in effect acting as their own general contractor are becoming a common occurrence. Complete solar installation kits are readily available, pre-packaged ready to ship and install.
Each community has their own set of building codes that applies to the installation of solar equipment that tied to the national electric and building codes. Building codes are put in place to provide standards and methods for installing solar and other home improvement projects.
Sometimes homeowners make the mistake of circumventing the solar permitting process and just have the system installed thinking they can save a couple of hundred dollars. Don't do it. The solar permitting process, like all generally accepted building codes, are put in place to ensure the longevity of the project as well as the safety of those who might interact with the solar system. There are also some significant consequences if the building department discovers the unpermitted installation. You may be subject to fines as well as the removal of all the equipment requiring you to start from scratch.
Additionally, in most areas, solar rebates are tied to the sign off of the solar building permit. Once the final AHJ (Authority having jurisdiction is signed off by the building official, the homeowner can process the local rebate if available for your area.
Don't forget your local utility interconnect agreement. You can download the utility company interconnect agreement
from the local providers website or call your utility
customer service department and have them send it to you. You will need to initially submit this agreement when you submit your building permit application. The local utility
will at the least require a copy of a line drawing for your system which we provide even without the full permit service if you buy the complete kit from Blue Pacific Solar®.
The solar permit process is both technical and administrative. Product standards, installation codes and enforcement are separate but related functions that result in higher quality and safer systems.