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Home  /  Solar site surveys  /  Arkansas  /  Little Rock

Solar site surveys · Little Rock, AR

Solar site surveys in Little Rock

Roof, attic and service panel captured in one visit, with the plan set built for the Little Rock AHJ you submit into and the utility that serves the address.

NEC 2020Electrical code in effect
2AHJs covered here
48 hrsSurvey to deliverable
Nationwide500+ technicians
Short answer

In Little Rock, the Building Codes Division of Planning and Development issues building and electrical permits, reviews plans and inspects through its own electrical inspection section, and takes applications through its online permit portal. The city's posted code list shows the 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code and the 2020 NEC with city amendments, and Entergy Arkansas handles interconnection under its post-2024 Non-Legacy net metering schedule.

What changes in Little Rock

Arkansas state rules apply here, plus whatever the local AHJ amends.

AR · LITTLE ROCKLittle Rock
Code stack
2020NEC 2020National Electrical Code. Little Rock's enforced-codes list (January 2023) shows the 2020 NEC with city amendments in Chapter 8 of the Code of Ordinances; the state rule now adopts the 2026 NEC, so confirm which edition the city is applying.1,2
2021IRC 2021The 2021 IRC with Arkansas amendments is Volume III of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, effective statewide January 1, 2023; the state's amendments to Chapter 3 do not change the R324 solar provisions.3,4
2021IFC 2021The 2021 IFC is Volume I of the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, adopted by the State Fire Marshal with no Arkansas changes to Chapter 12, Energy Systems.3,4
Rooftop fire access. Because Arkansas adopted the 2021 IRC and IFC without changing their solar sections, homes follow IRC R324.6 (two 36-inch eave-to-ridge pathways and 18-inch ridge setbacks, 36 inches above 33% coverage, roofs of 2:12 or less exempt) and other buildings follow IFC Section 1205.4,5,6

Climate and site factors

Posted code editions

Little Rock's enforced-codes list, dated January 7, 2023, shows AFPC 2021 Volumes I to III, the 2021 IEBC and the 2020 NEC with city amendments in Chapter 8 of the city code.1

City inspectors

The Building Codes Division has its own electrical inspection section, so the PV electrical inspection is done by city staff rather than a state inspector.7

Storm preparedness

The Building Codes Division links contractors to federal tornado safety resources on its main page.7

Export value

Entergy Arkansas buys net excess from customers connecting after September 30, 2024 at its estimated annual average avoided cost.8

Permitting in Little Rock

The main AHJs, and how the rest of the metro splits up.

City of Little Rock Building Codes Division

Issues construction permits and provides plan review and inspections for building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work, with separate building and electrical inspection sections; applications go through the city's Interactive Building-Construction Permit Program.7

Official page ↗

Little Rock Historic District Commission

Planning and Development runs the city's historic preservation program, and exterior work in local historic districts goes to the Historic District Commission, whose applications are filed in person at 723 West Markham Street.7,9

Official page ↗

Across the metro

Each city in the metro permits and inspects under the statewide Arkansas Fire Prevention Code and adopts the state electrical code by its own ordinance, so the electrical edition in force can differ from city to city.3,10

Arkansas-wide rules that still apply

Utilities and interconnection

Entergy Arkansas interconnects projects in Little Rock, including the city's own solar array, while First Electric Cooperative has offices in nearby Jacksonville and Benton; both follow Act 278's rules for new net-metering customers.13,8,11,12

Entergy Arkansas

The utility the City of Little Rock signed interconnection agreements with for its own 4.9 MW AC solar project in 2024. The process starts with a Preliminary Interconnection Site Review Request and one-line diagram, the customer pays for any required studies, and the signed Standard Interconnection Agreement is due 30 days before interconnection; customers connecting after September 30, 2024 take the Non-Legacy Net Metering schedule.8,13

Interconnection page ↗

First Electric Cooperative First Electric

An electric cooperative with local offices in Jacksonville and Benton, near Little Rock. It charges a one-time $320 interconnection review fee for systems up to 25 kW, and since September 29, 2024 bills delivered energy at the tariff rate while crediting exports on a separate meter channel at the prior year's avoided cost.11

Interconnection page ↗
Export compensation. As of September 2026, Act 278 of 2023 lets customers who had interconnection agreements in before September 30, 2024 keep the old rate structure until June 1, 2040. Newer systems are billed under a structure the utility chooses: all exports credited at avoided cost (for most utilities, the prior year's average MISO or SPP market price), or netting with a monthly grid charge per kW; Entergy Arkansas buys net excess at its estimated annual average avoided cost.12,8,11

What we capture on every Little Rock survey

The same capture standard as every other Arkansas job, so the plan set is built on what the technician verified on site.

Roof and structure

  • Measured roof planes: pitch, azimuth, dimensions
  • Every penetration and obstruction, located
  • Rafter or truss size, spacing and span
  • Decking type and condition
  • Layer count at a cut edge
  • Setbacks and fire pathway constraints
  • Horizon shading capture per array area

Electrical and interconnection

  • Main breaker and bus bar rating, photographed separately
  • Meter location and configuration
  • Slot count: used, open, tandem, double-tapped
  • Available interconnection points
  • Existing loads and sub-panels
  • Conduit route, measured along the actual path
  • Grounding electrode and bonding path

Commercial buildings

  • Membrane type, age and condition, with drainage pattern
  • Bar joist depth, spacing and span
  • Deck type and gauge
  • Switchgear and available bus capacity
  • Access and lift constraints for the install crew

Every visit

  • Roof and electrical in one visit, no second trip
  • 48-hour turnaround from survey to deliverable
  • Photo documentation throughout
  • Permit sets available, stamped, 6 days from survey

Little Rock solar survey FAQ

Who issues solar permits in Little Rock?

The Building Codes Division of the Planning and Development Department, which handles building and electrical permits, plan review and inspections.7

Which electrical code does Little Rock enforce?

The city's posted list shows the 2020 NEC with local amendments, while the state rule has moved to the 2026 NEC; confirm the current edition with the division.1,2

How does Entergy Arkansas credit solar exports for new customers?

Customers connecting after September 30, 2024 take the Non-Legacy Net Metering schedule, with net excess bought at Entergy Arkansas's estimated annual average avoided cost.8

What does Entergy Arkansas need before interconnecting solar?

A Preliminary Interconnection Site Review Request with a one-line diagram, payment for any required studies, and a signed Standard Interconnection Agreement 30 days before interconnection.8

Services and further reading

State-level detail is on the Arkansas page; every location is on the solar site survey hub.

From Field Notes

Sources

Every local fact on this page links to where it came from. Codes, programs and tariffs change: confirm the current requirement with the AHJ and the utility before you design.

  1. https://www.littlerock.gov/media/18644/enforced-construction-codes-2023-c-sized-sheet.pdf
  2. https://labor.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/17CARpt-210-Final.pdf
  3. https://media.ark.org/dps/ASP-Foreword-Fire-Code-Rules-Redlined_10-2024.pdf
  4. https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FAssembly%2FMeeting+Attachments%2F040%2F5095%2FD.21.c+DPS+DASP+2021+Arkansas+Fire+Prevention+Code.pdf
  5. https://up.codes/s/roof-access-and-pathways
  6. https://codes.iccsafe.org/s/IFC2021P1/chapter-12-energy-systems/IFC2021P1-Pt03-Ch12-Sec1205.2.1
  7. https://littlerock.gov/government/city-departments/planning-and-development/divisions/
  8. https://www.entergyarkansas.com/net-metering/
  9. https://littlerock.gov/government/city-departments/planning-and-development/divisions/applications/
  10. https://highfillarkansas.gov/public-hearing-proposed-adoption-of-electrical-code/
  11. https://www.firstelectric.coop/net-metering
  12. https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2023R%2FPublic%2F&file=278.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2023%2F2023R
  13. https://littlerock.gov/little-rock-reaches-solar-project-milestone/

Researched September 30, 2026.

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