Dallas Solar Sales & Installation: Before You Start

Scope before you use this guide

For businesses preparing to sell residential solar or install systems in Dallas. This is not a guide to selling a solar-equipped home. City boundaries, utility territories, activity and project scope control which rules apply. Commercial and utility-scale projects need separate review.

Official requirements below are selected current checkpoints, with nearby primary sources. The planning worksheets and business judgments are editorial advice. Use them to obtain a complete activity-specific determination from the authorities and your advisers; this page cannot certify that every obligation is satisfied.

Your local approval checkpoints

Check retailer registration and continuing obligations

TDLR’s retailer route requires registration, annual renewal, general liability coverage of at least $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate, a designated record keeper/responsible party and identification of salespersons. Confirm applicability and current application conditions for your entity.

TDLR residential solar retailer registration and insurance

Verify salesperson status and affiliation

TDLR states that a residential solar salesperson must hold registration and work for a registered retailer. Retain the actual current status and affiliation rather than describing a pending application as approval.

TDLR residential solar salesperson registration

Resolve the electrical-contractor exemption correctly

The adopted rules include limited electrical-contractor and employee exemptions and other exclusions. Ask TDLR to confirm how they apply to your operating model; do not apply the retailer rule universally or assume a sales affiliate inherits an installer’s exemption.

Texas solar retail rules and electrical-contractor exemptions

Do not mistake a narrow enforcement pause for a waiver

TDLR currently suspends enforcement of rules §71.41 (contract disclosures) and §71.43 (educational materials) until November 1, 2026. Its notice does not suspend the entire program. Recheck the notice and complete the applicable contract review before launch.

TDLR current residential solar program notices

Identify the licensed electrical delivery entity

TDLR requires non-exempt electrical work to be performed by licensed people through a licensed electrical contractor. Check the actual entity offering and performing the work; retail registration alone does not authorize installation.

TDLR electrical work licensing

Set up the City route

Dallas’s forms directory includes contractor/electrical registration and solar checklists. Obtain the current requirements for your role and scope, set up the required portal/account relationship and record who submits and answers corrections.

Dallas contractor registration and permit forms

Choose and retain a review pathway

Dallas Bulletin 204 describes City and qualified third-party solar review routes, with the chosen route continuing through completion. Third-party review retains City and specialty obligations; confirm qualification and all current conditions before using it.

Dallas solar review pathways, Bulletin 204

Separate grid approval from export compensation

Oncor’s installer portal tracks interconnection through operating permission. The customer separately negotiates surplus-energy terms with a retail electric provider. Confirm the actual wires utility; an Oncor approval does not guarantee a buyback price.

Oncor installer interconnection and REP responsibilities

Before your first sale or installation

1. Define the activity. List sales, lead generation, contracting, electrical work, storage, roofing and service separately. Assign a legal entity and responsible person to each. A referral partner does not automatically authorize your company to offer regulated work.
2. Set up the business and channels. Confirm entity registration or foreign qualification, tax accounts, business-location zoning, local activity permits and solicitation rules with the relevant agencies. Have counsel review your actual door-to-door, phone, text and online lead practices before using them.
3. Fund and staff the work. Have advisers confirm applicable bonds, insurance, workers’ compensation, employment classifications, safety training and subcontract terms. Budget from written supplier and provider quotes, not an assumed market-wide margin.
4. Review the consumer offer. Approve contracts, cancellation notices, language access, financing disclosures, complaint handling and substantiation of savings claims for this jurisdiction. Recheck incentive eligibility at proposal time; keep unconfirmed incentives out of guaranteed totals.
5. Build the site-to-design handoff. Define roof, attic and electrical evidence; identify who performs licensed design and engineering; record inaccessible areas and missing labels. Do not send a guessed equipment rating as a measured fact.
6. Name the closeout owner. Assign permit corrections, utility authorization, customer education, warranty contacts and service follow-up. Retain the approved design, inspection results and utility operating notice as separate records.

A readiness record you can review

Questions to settle

Keep the market and the project connected

Existing homeowner approval guide · Utility and bill context

Solar Survey AI can discuss site survey scope, permitting and design handoffs and inspection scope. Use our evidence methodology to define verified inputs and limitations. Confirm actual coverage, availability and licensed responsibilities before contracting. We do not license your business, approve a permit or guarantee market success. Homeowner monitoring connections and planned remote diagnosis remain coming soon.

Primary sources and review

Reviewed October 6, 2026 by Solar Survey AI. Selected official sources inform the local checkpoints; tradeoffs and worksheets are our editorial analysis. No agency or utility endorsement is implied. Recheck dated notices before launch.

• TDLR residential solar retailer registration and insurance
• TDLR residential solar salesperson registration
• TDLR current residential solar program notices
• Texas solar retail rules and electrical-contractor exemptions
• TDLR electrical work licensing
• Dallas contractor registration and permit forms
• Dallas solar review pathways, Bulletin 204
• DallasNow current application status
• Oncor installer interconnection and REP responsibilities