Solar Permit Design Services in Los Angeles

Solar permit design in Los Angeles requires LADBS approved plan sets that include a site plan, electrical single-line diagrams, structural calculations, and LAFD fire access documentation. Residential systems up to 10 kW on 1-2 family dwellings may qualify for same-day online permitting at dbs.lacity.gov (contractors only). Larger systems require ePlanLA plan check review (1-4 weeks). Solar Permit Solutions delivers PE-stamped, LADBS-ready plan sets in 2-5 business days designed for first-pass approval. 

We provide comprehensive solar permit design services for residential and commercial projects in Los Angeles, California. Our team of engineers creates detailed permit plans that meet all local building codes and AHJ requirements. 

Why Los Angeles Has the Nation’s Most Complex Solar Permitting

Los Angeles leads the country in residential solar installations and with that volume comes one of the most layered permitting environments in the US. Projects must satisfy LADBS building and electrical codes, California Title 24 energy standards, LAFD fire department access requirements, and LADWP interconnection rules before a single panel can go up. The details matter: a missing spec sheet or incorrect setback calculation means correction rounds and lost weeks.

Our plan sets are built specifically for the LA permitting environment, incorporating all LADBS documentation requirements and LAFD fire access pathway standards so your permit application moves through review the first time.

Los Angeles Quick Facts

AHJ (CITY) LADBS Los Angeles Dept. of Building & Safety	EXPRESS PERMIT PORTAL dbs.lacity.gov Contractors only – same-day for qualifying systems up to 10 kW
PLAN CHECK PORTAL ePlanLA 1-4 weeks for larger/complex systems	UTILITY (CITY OF LA) LADWP Municipal utility, no NEM cap
PERMIT FEES (TYPICAL) $150-$500+ Varies by system size & complexity	FIRE CLEARANCE LAFD Required Roof access pathways per CA Fire Code

Los Angeles LADBS Solar Permitting Process

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety is the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for the City of Los Angeles. LADBS offers two permitting paths for solar PV installations, and knowing which path your project qualifies for is the first step to avoiding unnecessary delays.

LADBS – Authority Having Jurisdiction (City of Los Angeles)

Express Permit Portal	dbs.lacity.gov (Online Permits – Contractors only for solar)
Plan Check Portal	ePlanLA (eplan.lacity.org)
Login Required	Angeleno Account (accounts.lacity.gov
Customer Call Center	311 (in LA County) / (213) 473-3231
Fire Clearance	LAFD—Required for most rooftop systems
Express Permit Timeline	Same-day to 48 hours
Plan Check Timeline	1-4 weeks (varies by complexity)
Applicable Code	NEC, IBC, CA Building Code, Title 24

Express Permit vs. ePlanLA Plan Check

Residential rooftop solar systems that meet LADBS Express Permit eligibility criteria can apply online at dbs.lacity.gov without a full plan review.

Important: Solar express permits through LADBS are available online to licensed contractors only – homeowners must use a licensed contractor to pull the electrical permit.

Systems qualifying for express permitting must be:

• Rooftop on a 1-2 family dwelling
• 10 kW AC or less
• Single-phase 120/240V
• Service panel rated 225A or less
• Up to two string inverters or four microinverter branch circuits
• No hybrid, BIPV, or battery systems (battery storage has its own express path with additional LAFD fire plan check)

Approval is generally issued within 24-48 hours. Systems outside express eligibility, including larger arrays, commercial projects, and hillside installations, must submit complete engineered plan sets through ePlanLA for plan check review.

Solar Permit Solutions prepares plan sets for both pathways. Our express permit packages include all required documentation for PermitLA submission. Our full plan check packages are engineered to LADBS plan check standards and include structural calculations, LAFD fire access documentation, and all required specification sheets optimized for first-pass approval.

LAFD Fire Department Clearance

The Los Angeles Fire Department requires fire access pathways to be documented on rooftop solar plan sets per California Fire Code Section 1205.2. This includes minimum setbacks from roof edges, ridges, and hips to allow emergency responder access. Our plan sets incorporate LAFD access pathway documentation as a standard component of every LA project package.

UTILITY INTERCONNECTION

LADWP Solar Interconnection & Net Metering

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the municipal utility serving the City of Los Angeles and operates one of the most favorable net metering programs in California. Unlike investor-owned utilities that transitioned to NEM 3.0, LADWP continues to offer net energy metering at the full retail rate, and there is no system-wide capacity cap.

LADWP Net Metering Excess solar energy is credited at full retail rate. Credits never expire and can be applied to future bills. Residential and commercial customers are eligible. Maximum system size: 1 MW. No program cap.	Interconnection Process Types: Type 1: Systems up to 30 kW AC (standard residential). Type 2: Multi-meter or small cogeneration up to 30 kW. Type 3: 30 kW-1 MW (commercial). Type 4: Over 1 MW.
NEM Application Requirements: Apply at ladwp.com/nem to obtain an Interconnection Work Request Number (WR#). Systems over 10 kW follow the Standard Solar Process. Systems over 30 kW require a signed Solar-Powered Customer Generation Interconnection Agreement.	Other LA County Utilities areas outside the City of LA may be served by SCE (Southern California Edison), which operates under NEM 3.0 rules, or by municipal utilities in Long Beach, Pasadena, Burbank, or Glendale. Our team designs for all LA County utilities.

How We Deliver Your LA Solar Permit Package

Step 1: Submit Your Project Details

Complete our intake form with your property address, system specs, and any existing site documentation. Satellite imagery is used to assess the installation – no site visit required from your end.

Step 2: Receive Your Invoice

We confirm the project scope and send a flat-rate invoice based on system size. No hidden fees – pricing is transparent before any work begins.

Step 3: Engineering & Plan Set Design

Our engineers design your LADBS-compliant plan set, incorporating LAFD fire access pathways, California Title 24 compliance, NEC code requirements, and structural calculations for your specific roof type. All specifications are verified against current LADBS requirements.

Step 4: PE Stamp & Delivery in 2-5 Business Days

Your completed plan set is reviewed and stamped by a California-licensed professional engineer and delivered digitally – ready for PermitLA or ePlanLA submission.

Step 5: Unlimited Revisions Until Approved

If LADBS requests corrections or clarifications, we revise your plan set at no additional cost until your permit is approved. We stand behind every set we deliver.