San Luis Obispo Designated as "SolSmart Gold" for Solar Energy Leadership

Solar Panel Permits with SolarAPP+

Residential homeowners and solar panel installation contractors in the City of San Luis Obispo are now able to apply for permits online with the help of SolarAPP+, a web-based portal for residential solar energy system installations, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to automate project plan reviews, receive and automated permit, pay fees online, and schedule inspections.

SolarAPP+ Process

1. Submit for automated review through SolarAPP+.
   • Register or sign in to SolarAPP+ at solarapp.nrel.gov
   • Submit design
   • Pay $25 administrative fee (per project)
   • Download SolarAPP+ Approval Document
2. Submit SolarAPP+ Permit application to the City.
   • Register or log in to InfoSLO
   • Search for and select the Photovoltaic (SolarAPP) application
   • Attach fully completed and signed Building Permit Application
   • Attach your SolarAPP+ Approval Document
   • Submit your permit application, an invoice will show on your portal account
3. Pay the permit fees online, the permit will be auto-issued within about a minute.
4. Schedule the inspection online.
   • Log in to the portal and request inspection.
   • Requests received by 5:00 p.m. may be scheduled for the following business day

SolarAPP+ Revisions 

1. Submit for a revision through SolarAPP+ first, you will be provided with a downloadable revised SolarAPP+ Approval Document.
2. You can then upload your new SolarAPP+ Approval Document to the InfoSLO portal under your SAPP permit.
   1. Navigate to infoslo.slocity.org
   2. Log in to the account associated with your SolarAPP+ permit
   3. Navigate to Dashboard and click Active Permits
   4. Find the SolarAPP+ Permit Application you’d like to revise
   5. Under the Attachments Tab you can add a Revision file
3. Attachments will then be reviewed and accepted by our staff.

Tool Kits

The following “Tool Kits” are designed to help applicants obtain small roof mounted photovoltaic permits over the counter.

Toolkit #1 - Solar Photovoltaic Installations 10 kW or Less in One and Two-Family Dwellings

Toolkit #2 - Solar Photovoltaic Permitting for One and Two Family Dwellings

Toolkit #3 - Simplified Central/String Inverter Systems for One and Two Family Dwellings

Toolkit #4 - Simplified Microinverter and ACM Systems for One and Two Family Dwellings

Toolkit #5 - Structural Criteria for Residential Rooftop Solar Energy Installations

Visit the following link for more information and downloadable copy of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook

www.energycenter.org