What goes in a solar permit plan set

What a plan checker expects

A residential solar permit set shows the building department four things: where the system goes, how it is attached, how it is wired, and that every number follows the adopted code. Most sets carry those as eight or so sheet groups on ANSI B (11×17). Your jurisdiction’s submittal checklist has the final say, and many add their own forms, but the sheets below cover what nearly every plan checker looks for.

PV-0 · Cover sheet

• Project address, owner, APN and the contractor’s name, licence number and contact
• A one-line scope of work and a system summary: module count and model, DC and AC size, inverter(s), battery and backup type
• Adopted codes and editions (building, residential, electrical, fire) and the design criteria: wind speed and exposure, ground snow load, seismic category
• An aerial and a vicinity map
• A sheet index

PV-1 · Site plan

• Property lines, structures, driveway and street, with a north arrow and scale
• The array location on the roof, and every piece of equipment: meter, main panel, disconnects, inverter, battery, junction boxes
• The conduit route between them, and whether it runs on the roof, the wall, in the attic or underground
• For ground mounts, the array’s setbacks from property lines and structures

PV-2 · Roof or array plan

• Each roof face with its pitch and azimuth, and the modules placed on it
• Fire access: in the IRC (R324.6), at least two 36 in. pathways on separate roof planes from eave to ridge, one on the street or driveway side; a ridge setback of 18 in. when the array covers 33% or less of the roof (66% with sprinklers) and 36 in. above that; no modules below an emergency escape and rescue opening, with a 36 in. pathway to it
• Vents, chimneys, skylights and other obstructions
• Rafter or truss size and spacing, and the attachment layout
• Equipment elevations where the jurisdiction wants them, showing clearances around the panel and any battery

Fire pathway rules vary: the IFC, state fire codes and local amendments change the widths and exceptions, so draw what your jurisdiction has adopted.

PV-3 · Attachment and structural details

• The attachment detail: flashing, lag size and embedment, rafter, racking rail and clamp
• Attachment spacing against the racking manufacturer’s span table for the site’s wind and snow
• The array’s dead load in psf
• A structural letter or calculations where the jurisdiction asks for one
• For ground mounts, the foundation detail and loads; for batteries, the mounting detail

PV-4 · Line diagram

• Modules and strings (or microinverters and branch circuits), inverter, rapid-shutdown devices (NEC 690.12), combiners and junction boxes
• Disconnects, overcurrent devices and their ratings
• Every conductor and conduit: size, type, number of conductors, and the equipment grounding conductor
• The point of connection and how it complies with NEC 705.12 or 705.11 (see the 120% rule)
• Batteries, backup gateways, backup panels and generators where present

PV-5 · Calculations

• Maximum string voltage at the record low temperature (690.7) against the inverter’s limit, and minimum voltage in heat against the MPPT window
• Conductor ampacity at 125% continuous current with temperature and conduit-fill derates (690.8, 310.16), and voltage drop
• The busbar check for the point of connection
• A residential load calculation (NEC 220) when you add a battery, derate the main or change the service

PV-6 · Labels and placards

• Rapid-shutdown labels (690.56(C)) and the PV system disconnect labels (690.13)
• The backfed-breaker warning (705.12), DC circuit labels and the source directory showing every power source and where its disconnect is (705.10)
• Energy storage labels and placards (NEC 706) where a battery is installed
• Each label’s location, ideally with the code section printed under it

PV-7+ · Spec sheets

Manufacturer data sheets for everything on the set, showing the listings a reviewer checks: modules (UL 61730), inverters (UL 1741, with SA/SB where the utility requires it), rapid-shutdown devices, racking (UL 2703) and batteries (UL 9540). For storage, see IRC R328 battery rules.

What gets a set sent back

1. Fire pathways or ridge setbacks missing, or drawn to the wrong code
2. A point of connection that fails the busbar rule, or doesn’t show how it complies
3. String voltage calculated at the wrong temperature
4. Conductor sizes that don’t match between the line diagram, the calculations and the conductor schedule
5. Missing or wrong labels, especially rapid shutdown and the source directory
6. A spec sheet missing for something on the line diagram
7. No structural letter where the jurisdiction wants one

When a letter does come back, here is how to answer it.

How Ballast Solar builds it

Ballast Solar produces every sheet on this list, keeps the numbers consistent from sheet to sheet, and checks the set against the adopted code before it leaves your office. For how long each city takes to issue the permit, see solar permit requirements by jurisdiction.

Questions

What sheets are in a solar permit plan set?

Usually a cover sheet, site plan, roof or array plan, attachment and structural details, a line diagram, calculations, labels and placards, and the manufacturer spec sheets. Many jurisdictions add their own forms.

Do I need a structural letter for residential solar?

It depends on the jurisdiction. Many accept an attachment detail and span-table check for standard rafters; others require a letter or calculations from an engineer, especially for older framing, heavy arrays or high wind and snow areas.

What are the fire setbacks for rooftop solar?

Under IRC R324.6: at least two 36-inch pathways from eave to ridge on separate roof planes, and a ridge setback of 18 inches when the array covers 33% or less of the roof (66% with sprinklers), otherwise 36 inches. Local fire codes can change these.

What size paper is a solar plan set?

Most jurisdictions want ANSI B (11 by 17 inches); some accept letter-size or require larger sheets. Check the submittal checklist.

This guide explains the code for planning purposes. The adopted edition, local amendments and the AHJ’s interpretation govern; the contractor of record is responsible for the design.