Raleigh Residential Solar Permit Guide

Raleigh publishes a residential solar PV permit checklist and notes for rooftop and ground-mounted systems.

Permit takeaway

Raleigh says most residential one- and two-family rooftop solar PV systems are eligible for same-day online permitting through the permit portal.

Zoning and placement

Roof-mounted systems that do not exceed allowed height do not require a zoning permit; ground-mounted systems have separate zoning rules.

Building and trade review

The electrical permit is applied for through the residential permit by listing the electrical subcontractor information.

Call before applying when

Call before applying if the system is ground-mounted, in a historic overlay district, flagged for review, or includes stormwater or multi-trade questions.

Documents to prepare

• Solar application
• Electrical subcontractor information
• Ground-mounted site plan if applicable
• Historic district information if applicable

Inspection planning

• Schedule solar/electrical inspections through the portal
• Keep approved documents available
• Final inspection

Official sources

• Raleigh Residential Solar PV System

This guide is a planning summary. Always verify the current requirements with the local office before starting work.