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Home  /  Solar site surveys  /  Indiana

Solar site surveys · Indiana

Solar site surveys in Indiana

A technician on the roof, in the attic and at the service panel, with the survey read against the code editions, AHJs and utilities that apply in Indiana.

Book a 15-min callWhat changes in Indiana
NEC 2008Electrical code in effect
3Utilities covered here
48 hrsSurvey to deliverable
Nationwide500+ technicians
Short answer

Indiana writes one statewide code set through the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, and as of September 2026 the electrical code in force is still the 2009 Indiana Electrical Code built on the 2008 NEC; a 2023 NEC update had its public hearing in July 2026 but is not yet final. Homes follow the 2020 Indiana Residential Code (2018 IRC), whose R324.6 roof pathways apply, and new solar at the large investor-owned utilities earns Excess Distributed Generation credits under instantaneous netting instead of net metering.

What changes in Indiana

The capture spec is the same everywhere. What the engineer and the plan reviewer read it against is not.

IN · METROSIndianapolis
Code stack
2008NEC 2008National Electrical Code · effective Aug 26, 2009. The Indiana Electrical Code, 2009 Edition (675 IAC 17-1.8) adopts the 2008 NEC and is still the rule in force. A replacement adopting the 2023 NEC as the 2026 Indiana Electrical Code (LSA Document #26-62) went through public comment and a July 23, 2026 public hearing but had not been published as a final rule by late September 2026, so confirm the edition with the AHJ at permit time.1,2,3
2018IRC 2018The 2020 Indiana Residential Code (675 IAC 14-4.4) adopts the 2018 IRC with state amendments for one- and two-family dwellings (Class 2 structures). Its Table R301.2(1) is replaced with county-by-county design values.1,4
2012IFC 2012The 2014 Indiana Fire Code (675 IAC 22-2.5) is based on the 2012 IFC, and the 2014 Indiana Building Code is based on the 2012 IBC. Drafts adopting the 2024 IFC and 2024 IBC as 2026 Indiana codes were posted by the Department of Homeland Security in 2026 but carried no effective date.1,5,6
Rooftop fire access. Indiana's residential code adopts the 2018 IRC without amending Section R324, so one- and two-family homes fall under R324.6: two 36-inch eave-to-ridge pathways on separate roof planes, one facing the street or driveway, and 18-inch clearances each side of a ridge (36 inches once the array covers more than a third of the roof). Commercial (Class 1) buildings follow Section 605.11 of the 2012-based Indiana Fire Code, which calls for perimeter and centerline access.4,7

Climate and site factors

Snow and wind

The state residential code lists a 115 mph design wind speed for every county and a 20 psf ground snow load for most of central and southern Indiana, rising to 30 psf in northern counties such as Lake, Elkhart and DeKalb.4

Electrical code age

Because the state electrical code still rests on the 2008 NEC, rapid-shutdown and labeling details can differ from what installers see in states on the 2020 or 2023 NEC; the pending 2023 NEC update would close that gap once it takes effect.1,2

Roof pathways

For homes, R324.6 of the 2018 IRC applies as adopted: 36-inch eave-to-ridge pathways and 18- or 36-inch ridge setbacks depending on array coverage, with an exception for roofs of 2:12 or flatter.4

HOAs

HOAs can set screening and appearance rules but cannot block solar once a homeowner gathers the petition signatures the 2022 law requires.8,9

Permitting in Indiana

Who reviews the plan set, and what the state layers on top.

Utilities and interconnection

The utility decides the interconnection path and what an exported kilowatt-hour is worth.

Duke Energy Indiana Duke

Indiana's largest electric utility, serving about 928,000 customers in 69 of the state's 92 counties. The IURC approved its excess distributed generation tariff with instantaneous netting in Cause No. 45508 in July 2022.11,12

Interconnection page ↗

AES Indiana AES

Serves more than 500,000 customers in Indianapolis and nearby parts of central Indiana. Level 1 applications (up to 10 kW, no fee) cover most homes, inverters must meet IEEE 1547-2018 and UL 1741, and systems installed after June 30, 2022 are credited under Rider 16, Rate EDG.13,14,15

Interconnection page ↗

Northern Indiana Public Service Co. NIPSCO

Serves roughly 500,000 electric customers across northern Indiana. New customer generation up to 1 MW (or the customer's average annual use, if smaller) goes on its Excess Distributed Generation tariff, and Level 1 interconnection covers systems up to 25 kW with no fee.16,17

Interconnection page ↗
Export compensation. Under Senate Enrolled Act 309 (2017), the large investor-owned utilities closed net metering to new systems after June 30, 2022; systems installed before 2018 keep it until July 1, 2047 and those from 2018 to mid-2022 until July 1, 2032. New systems receive Excess Distributed Generation credits priced at 1.25 times the utility's average marginal energy price from the prior year, and the Indiana Supreme Court upheld instantaneous netting, which credits each exported kWh at that rate while imports are billed at retail, in January 2023.15,18,19

What we capture on every Indiana survey

One standard, one visit, the same record in Indiana as everywhere else. What it gets checked against is the code stack above.

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

Indiana solar survey FAQ

Which NEC edition applies to solar in Indiana?

As of September 2026, the 2009 Indiana Electrical Code based on the 2008 NEC. A rule adopting the 2023 NEC had its public hearing on July 23, 2026 but was not yet final, so check the edition in force on your permit date.1,3

Does Indiana still have net metering for new solar?

Not at the large investor-owned utilities. Systems installed after June 30, 2022 are credited under Excess Distributed Generation tariffs at 1.25 times the utility's prior-year average marginal energy price, measured by instantaneous netting.15,18,19

What roof setbacks apply to home solar in Indiana?

The 2020 Indiana Residential Code adopts the 2018 IRC's R324.6 unamended: at least two 36-inch pathways from eave to ridge and 18-inch ridge clearances, growing to 36 inches when panels cover more than a third of the roof.4

Can an Indiana HOA block solar panels?

Only in narrow cases. Under Indiana Code 32-25.5-3.5, a homeowner can petition neighbors, and once 65% of members (or fewer, if the covenants need fewer to amend) sign, the board cannot deny the request.8

What ground snow load is used for Indiana roofs?

The state residential code sets 20 psf for most counties, including Marion, and 30 psf in several northern counties; confirm the county value and any engineer's site-specific load.4

Services and further reading

Metro pages for Indiana: Indianapolis.

Residential

Roof, attic and service panel in one visit

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Commercial & Industrial

Roof, structure and switchgear

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Utility-Scale

Terrain, build and operations

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Site surveys

Roof and electrical, one visit

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Permitting & engineering

Stamped sets, six days from survey

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Shading analysis

SA, TOF and TSRF per plane

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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.in.gov/dhs/boards-and-commissions/fpbsc-rules
  2. https://iar.iga.in.gov/register/20260311-IR-675260062RAA
  3. https://iar.iga.in.gov/register/20260617-IR-675260062PHA
  4. https://iar.iga.in.gov/register/20191225-IR-675190330FRA
  5. https://www.in.gov/dhs/files/Fire-Code-LSA-Document-6.1.2026.pdf
  6. https://www.in.gov/dhs/files/Building-Code-LSA-Document-6.1.2026.pdf
  7. https://up.codes/viewer/indiana/ifc-2012/chapter/6/building-services-and-systems
  8. https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-32-property/in-code-sect-32-25-5-3-5-4/
  9. https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-32-property/in-code-sect-32-25-5-3-5-5/
  10. https://www.ksnlaw.com/blog/indiana-solar-panels-hoa-associations/
  11. https://www.in.gov/iurc/files/5.-SRF_26_Duke-Energy-Indiana.pdf
  12. https://secure.in.gov/oucc/electric/key-cases-by-utility/duke-energy-rates/duke-energy-distributed-generation-tariff
  13. https://www.aesindiana.com/aes-indiana-history
  14. https://www.aesindiana.com/customer-owned-generation
  15. https://www.aesindiana.com/solar-faqs
  16. https://www.nipsco.com/our-company/about-us
  17. https://www.nipsco.com/services/renewable-energy-programs/excess-distributed-generation-tariff
  18. https://www.in.gov/iurc/files/2017-07-20-IURC-Tech-Conf-Handout-re-IC-8-1-40.pdf
  19. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/in-supreme-court/2142635.html

Researched September 30, 2026.

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