Residential PV and Energy Storage Permit Guidelines

Robust permitting for one- and two-family residential installations, the most common project type in many jurisdictions, ensures that projects are safe, effective, and compliant with national safety standards. Efficient permitting also can reduce costs and save time.

SEAC’s updated National Simplified Residential PV and Energy Storage Permit Guidelines help align parties—from plan reviewers and inspectors to installers and contractors—on a consistent and streamlined process for permitting simple photovoltaic (PV) system and energy storage system (ESS) installations.

Bill Brooks, principal engineer at Brooks Engineering, drafted the guidelines with support from SEAC’s Standard and Efficient Permitting and Inspection Working Group, SolSmart, and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.

This resource was originally published in October 2021 along with technical commentary that describes engineering principles and assumptions. In September 2026, we published a second edition featuring updated references to the International Codes, the National Electrical Code, and other reference codes. The revised guidelines include expanded commentary from the original author. SEAC’s Standard and Efficient Permitting and Inspection Working Group also contributed a new collection of single-line diagrams to the commentary, with major support from the group’s Vice Chair Jeff Spies.

See the companion guidelines for project inspections, the National Simplified Residential PV and Energy Storage Inspection Guidelines.

SEAC makes the permitting guidelines and commentary publicly accessible to anyone who fills in the download form on this page. Your privacy is important to us. We do not sell or share your personal data.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Solar Energy and Technologies Office Award Number DE-EE00011801. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Energy or the United States Government.