What does getPermit actually do?

getPermit reads your job details and tells you what a California city expects before you file: which permits the work triggers, the documents and plans you'll need, the fees to budget for, and the common reasons applications in that jurisdiction get bounced back. It produces a clear checklist you can act on. It does not submit to the city for you — you (or your permit person) stay in control of what gets filed.

Is there a human involved, or is it just AI?

Both. The AI does the research and drafts the assessment and checklist; an experienced permit coordinator reviews and approves it before it's treated as authoritative. The human check is the point — it's how we keep it trustworthy in a process where a wrong filing has real consequences.

Which cities do you cover?

We're starting deep in California rather than shallow everywhere. For a city we haven't fully mapped yet, we'll give you accurate general California guidance and point you to that city's official building department — and you can join the waitlist to be notified when we cover it in depth. We will not invent city-specific fees or timelines we haven't verified.

Solo electricians, plumbers, and HVAC contractors, and small general contractors who don't have a dedicated permit department and lose billable hours to permit admin.

How much does it cost?

It's pre-launch. Join the waitlist and you'll get founder pricing, your jurisdiction prioritized, and a direct line to the team. No spam, no credit card.

We're onboarding a first set of California contractors. Join the waitlist with your city and trade so we can prioritize the jurisdictions our early users actually work in.

Solar permits in San Diego, CA

A plain-English starting point for solar contractors working in San Diego (San Diego County). This is general California guidance — it does not replace the requirements published by the city.

Short answer

Yes — rooftop solar PV and battery storage require a permit (generally a combined building/electrical permit, sometimes with a structural check) from the local building department in California. Many jurisdictions offer streamlined or instant residential solar permitting under statewide policy, but the permit, fee, and inspection are still the city's, and the utility interconnection is a separate process. Work is generally done by a C-46 (Solar) or C-10 (Electrical) contractor.

San Diego-specific fees, forms, and timelines are set by City of San Diego Development Services Department. We don't publish San Diego numbers we haven't verified.

The general picture

Solar photovoltaic and battery storage work in California requires permits from the local building department — typically a combined building/electrical permit, and sometimes a separate structural review for the roof mounting. California has adopted statewide measures to streamline residential solar permitting (including automated/instant permitting platforms many jurisdictions use), but the permit itself, the fee, and the inspection are still issued by the city or county, and the utility interconnection is handled separately. Confirm the local process with the jurisdiction below.

Typically needs a permit

Rooftop solar PV systems
Battery energy storage (ESS)
Solar + storage retrofits
Main panel upgrades for PV interconnection

Usually doesn't (general norm)

There is generally no no-permit path for a grid-tied PV or battery system — it's electrical work tied to the utility and the structure
Like-for-like replacement of a single failed module or component may be treated more lightly in some jurisdictions
System installs, additions, and storage always require a permit

Documents & plans generally required

Site plan and roof layout with module placement and fire-access pathways
Single-line electrical diagram and interconnection details
Structural attachment detail and, where required, a structural letter or calcs for roof loading
Equipment cut sheets (modules, inverter, battery) listed to recognized standards
Utility interconnection application/agreement (separate from the building permit)

Common reasons solar applications get bounced

These are general, code-rooted patterns across California — not a San Diego rejection rate.

Fire-code roof access/setback pathways not shown
Single-line diagram or interconnection details missing or inconsistent
No structural detail/letter for the mounting and added roof load
Equipment not listed/labeled to the required standards
Battery (ESS) submitted without the required location, separation, or listing details

The inspection sequence

A typical order — the number of stops and exact sequence vary by jurisdiction and scope.

1Rough/mounting inspection where required before final cover
2Final building/electrical inspection of the installed system
3Utility witness and permission-to-operate (PTO) — separate from the city, handled with the utility

Licensing — who can pull it

Solar PV in California is generally installed by a C-46 (Solar) or C-10 (Electrical) licensed contractor; a B general contractor may perform it within a larger project under CSLB rules. The utility interconnection (and PTO) is a separate process from the building permit and the city inspection.

Confirm San Diego specifics with the issuing department

City of San Diego Development Services Department

Fees, accepted submittal formats, and review timelines are set by San Diego and vary by project. We don't publish San Diego-specific numbers we haven't verified — that's exactly the gap getPermit closes for the cities we map in depth.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to install solar panels in California?

Yes. Grid-tied rooftop solar requires a building/electrical permit and inspection from the local jurisdiction, plus a separate utility interconnection. Many California jurisdictions offer streamlined or instant solar permitting, but the permit itself is still the city's. Confirm the local process with the department below.

Does a home battery (energy storage) need a permit?

Yes. Battery energy storage adds electrical scope and has its own listing, location, and separation requirements in California, and it often requires a main panel upgrade. It's permitted work — confirm specifics with the AHJ below.

What is instant or streamlined solar permitting?

Many California jurisdictions use an automated solar permitting platform that can issue a residential PV permit quickly once the application passes its code-compliance checks. Availability and the exact inputs vary by jurisdiction — confirm with the city's building department below.

Who can pull a solar permit?

Solar is generally installed and permitted by a licensed C-46 (Solar) or C-10 (Electrical) contractor. Licensing and who may pull a permit are governed by the CSLB and the local department.

Other trades in San Diego

Electrical permits Plumbing permits HVAC permits ADU permits Roofing permits All San Diego permits All California guides

Want getPermit to map San Diego in depth?

Join the waitlist with your city and trade. We prioritize the jurisdictions our early users actually work in — and we'll never invent fees or timelines we haven't verified.

Join the waitlist