Solar site surveys · Tampa, FL

Solar site surveys in Tampa

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

Book a 15-min call Permitting in Tampa

NEC 2020Electrical code in effect

2AHJs covered here

48 hrsSurvey to deliverable

Nationwide500+ technicians

Short answer

In the City of Tampa, residential PV goes through Accela as an electrical or plumbing trade permit that is issued automatically once the application and fees are submitted. Unincorporated Hillsborough County uses HillsGovHub and asks for sealed plans showing R324 roof loads, wind loads and fire pathways. Tampa Electric serves most of Hillsborough, Duke Energy Florida serves most of Pinellas, and the 2024 storms showed how exposed the bay is to storm surge.

What changes in Tampa

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

FL · TAMPA

Code stack

2020NEC 2020National Electrical Code · effective Dec 31, 2023. Chapter 27 of the 8th edition (2023) Florida Building Code adopts NFPA 70, and the edition in force statewide is the 2020 NEC. The 9th edition FBC, which moves to the 2023 NEC, is scheduled to take effect December 31, 2026, so confirm with the AHJ which edition applies to a given permit date.^1,2,3

2023FBC-R 2023The 8th edition (2023) Florida Building Code, Residential updates the prior Florida code using the 2021 IRC plus Florida amendments. Its solar section R324 now requires PV racking listed to UL 2703 and installed per its listing, and adds a BIPV roof panel provision. The 9th edition, based on the 2024 IRC, is scheduled for December 31, 2026.^4,3,5

2023FFPC 2023The 8th edition Florida Fire Prevention Code (NFPA 1 and NFPA 101, 2021 editions with Florida amendments) has been in effect since December 31, 2023. A 9th edition built on NFPA 1 (2024) was in draft for a December 31, 2026 effective date, with a proposed rule hearing held July 14, 2026.^6,7

Rooftop fire access. For one- and two-family homes, FBC-R Section R324.6 requires at least two 36-inch pathways from the lowest roof edge to the ridge on separate roof planes, one on the street or driveway side, and an 18-inch clear setback on each side of a horizontal ridge (36 inches once the array covers more than 33% of the plan-view roof area). Roofs of 2:12 slope or less are exempt, and the ridge thresholds rise to 66% in sprinklered homes. Other building types follow NFPA 1 Section 11.12 in the Fire Prevention Code.^8,9,10

Climate and site factors

Storm surge

Hurricane Helene in September 2024 pushed 5 to 7 feet of storm surge inundation into Tampa Bay, with a 6.83-foot water level at Old Port Tampa, and destroyed at least 419 homes in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.¹¹

Flooding rain

Hurricane Milton made landfall at Siesta Key in October 2024 and brought up to about 20 inches of rain near St. Petersburg, with record crests on the Hillsborough River.¹²

Wind-borne debris region

Hillsborough County flags properties in the wind-borne debris region for additional design requirements, and PV plans must show the FBC R324 wind-load design.⁹

Flood zones

Ground-mounted arrays in special flood hazard areas, especially coastal V and Coastal A zones or sites with muck soils, may need a geotechnical report and must meet ASCE 24 and NFIP rules in unincorporated Hillsborough.⁹

Permitting in Tampa

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

City of Tampa Construction Services

Residential solar requires an electrical or plumbing trade permit, submitted through Accela Citizen Access or in person at 1400 N Boulevard. Residential trade permits are issued automatically on application and payment. Commercial jobs need sealed plans and typically get a review within 10 days.¹³

Official page ↗

Hillsborough County Development Services

Roof-mounted PV in unincorporated Hillsborough needs an electrical trade permit through HillsGovHub. It requires digitally signed and sealed plans showing FBC R324 roof load, wind load, pathways and ridge setbacks, plus a recorded Notice of Commencement before the first inspection.⁹

Official page ↗

Across the metro

The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County run separate permit systems (Accela and HillsGovHub), and unincorporated communities such as Brandon and Riverview fall under the county. Pinellas and Pasco cities have their own building departments.^13,9

St. Petersburg
Clearwater
Brandon
Temple Terrace
Plant City
Riverview
Largo
Wesley Chapel

Florida-wide rules that still apply

Section 553.791, as amended by HB 683 (2025), treats solar and energy storage work as a single-trade review. When a licensed private provider reviews the plans, which it may do with automated software, and files an affidavit for a one- or two-family home, the building official has 5 business days to issue the permit or list specific deficiencies; otherwise the permit is deemed approved.^14,15
Since July 1, 2025, local governments may not require the builder-owner contract, or documents such as letters of intent or labor and material cost lists, to issue or accept a building permit application.^16,15
Section 163.04 bars ordinances, deed restrictions and HOA covenants from prohibiting solar collectors on homes. An association may choose where roof collectors go, within south-facing orientations up to 45 degrees east or west of due south, as long as that placement does not impair the system's effective operation.¹⁷
Solar energy systems sold in Florida must meet Florida Solar Energy Center standards unless a Florida-licensed engineer certifies them to the Florida Building Code, and Miami-Dade asks for the FSEC certification form with PV permit applications.^18,19
Permits are issued locally: each city runs its own building department, and the county handles unincorporated areas (for example, Miami-Dade's online portal serves unincorporated Miami-Dade and Hillsborough County's HillsGovHub serves its unincorporated areas).^19,9,20

Utilities and interconnection

Tampa Electric serves Tampa and most of Hillsborough County, along with parts of Pasco, Pinellas and Polk, while Duke Energy Florida serves most of Pinellas, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater, and Pasco.²¹

Duke Energy Florida

Investor-owned utility serving Pinellas County and much of Central and North Florida. It reported 89,710 customer-owned renewable interconnections at the end of 2024 under the PSC net metering rule.^21,22

Interconnection page ↗

Tampa Electric TECO

Investor-owned utility for most of Hillsborough County and parts of Pasco, Pinellas and Polk. Applications go through its online portal with the AHJ inspection approval and a photo of the placarded disconnect; approval can take up to 30 calendar days, after which a bi-directional meter is installed.^23,21

Interconnection page ↗

Export compensation. For the investor-owned utilities, PSC Rule 25-6.065 (unchanged since April 2008) sets three tiers: up to 10 kW, over 10 kW to 100 kW, and over 100 kW to 2 MW. Monthly excess generation is credited as kWh against the next bills for up to 12 months, and unused credits are paid out once a year at the utility's as-available (COG-1) avoided-energy rate. A 2022 bill (HB 741) to phase down net metering was vetoed, and as of September 2026 the rule text is still the 2008 version.^24,25,26

What we capture on every Tampa survey

The same capture standard as every other Florida 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

Tampa solar survey FAQ

How quickly does the City of Tampa issue a residential solar permit?

Residential solar is a trade permit (electrical or plumbing) in Accela, and the city issues it automatically once the application is submitted and the fees are paid. Inspections are scheduled through the same portal.¹³

What does Hillsborough County need for a rooftop solar permit?

An electrical trade permit through HillsGovHub with digitally signed and sealed plans covering FBC R324 roof load, wind load, pathways and ridge setbacks, electrical drawings per NEC Article 690, and a recorded Notice of Commencement before the first inspection.⁹

Which utility handles interconnection in the Tampa Bay area?

Tampa Electric for Tampa and most of Hillsborough County, and Duke Energy Florida for most of Pinellas, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Check the service address, since parts of Pasco and Pinellas are served by Tampa Electric.^21,23

How long does Tampa Electric take to approve a solar interconnection?

Up to 30 calendar days after it receives a complete application with the AHJ inspection approval and other documents, provided the system passes Tampa Electric's inspection. A bi-directional meter is installed after that.²³

Why does storm surge matter for a Tampa Bay solar survey?

Helene brought 5 to 7 feet of surge inundation into Tampa Bay in 2024, so the survey should note flood zone, equipment elevation and the location of ground-level electrical gear.^11,9

Services and further reading

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

Residential

Roof, attic and service panel in one visit

Explore →

Commercial & Industrial

Roof, structure and switchgear

Explore →

Utility-Scale

Terrain, build and operations

Explore →

Site surveys

Roof and electrical, one visit

Explore →

Permitting & engineering

Stamped sets, six days from survey

Explore →

Shading analysis

SA, TOF and TSRF per plane

Explore →

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.

Researched September 29, 2026.

Talk through your next Tampa site in 15 minutes

Bring your monthly job count and the AHJs you submit into, and we will tell you straight whether we fit.

Book a 15-min call

Residential

Commercial & Industrial

Utility-Scale

Across every scale

The platform

Sign in

Field Notes · build vs. buy

Field Notes · reference

Company

Solar site surveys in Tampa

What changes in Tampa

Climate and site factors

Storm surge

Flooding rain

Wind-borne debris region

Flood zones

Permitting in Tampa

City of Tampa Construction Services

Hillsborough County Development Services

Across the metro

Florida-wide rules that still apply

Utilities and interconnection

Duke Energy Florida

Tampa Electric TECO

What we capture on every Tampa survey

Roof and structure

Electrical and interconnection

Commercial buildings

Every visit

Tampa solar survey FAQ

Services and further reading

Residential

Commercial & Industrial

Utility-Scale

Site surveys

Permitting & engineering

Shading analysis

From Field Notes

Sources

Talk through your next Tampa site in 15 minutes