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Home  /  Solar site surveys  /  Maryland

Solar site surveys · Maryland

Solar site surveys in Maryland

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 Maryland.

By AHJNEC edition set locally
3Utilities covered here
48 hrsSurvey to deliverable
Nationwide500+ technicians
Short answer

Maryland's Building Performance Standards require every jurisdiction to use the same IBC and IRC edition (2021 since May 29, 2023, with the 2024 editions proposed in June 2026), but electrical and fire codes are set by the State Fire Marshal and by local governments, so the NEC edition changes at the Baltimore City line. Net metering still credits exports at retail with a 12-month or indefinite carryover, the 2024 Brighter Tomorrow Act required automated residential solar permitting from August 2025, and snow load is a real structural input.

What changes in Maryland

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

MD · METROSBaltimore
Code stack
LOCALNEC 2026 · Baltimore CountyNational Electrical Code · effective Sep 1, 2026. The Office of the State Fire Marshal adopts the state electrical code and some local jurisdictions adopt their own, so editions differ: Baltimore County enforces the 2026 NEC for electrical permits issued after August 31, 2026, while Baltimore City's Building, Fire, and Related Codes still adopt the 2020 NEC. Confirm the edition with each AHJ.1,2,3
2021IRC 2021Under the Maryland Building Performance Standards every jurisdiction uses the same IBC, IRC and IECC edition, which locals may amend (except the energy and accessibility codes). The 2021 IBC and IRC took effect at state level on May 29, 2023, with local enforcement due within 12 months; proposed MBPS rules adopting the 2024 IBC, IRC and IECC were published June 26, 2026.4,5,6,7
2024Fire code 2024The State Fire Prevention Code (COMAR 29.06.01) incorporates NFPA 1 Fire Code and NFPA 101, both 2024 editions, with Maryland amendments. Baltimore City is exempt from the state fire law and uses its own fire code.8,9,10
Rooftop fire access. Rooftop access follows the locally enforced residential code and fire code, and it differs by jurisdiction: Baltimore City's fire code (2021 IFC, Ordinance 24-341) applies the PV access and pathway rules to Group R-3 buildings but does not adopt the model code's exceptions to them, while most counties fall under the state NFPA 1 fire code.11,12,9

Climate and site factors

Snow

Baltimore City's residential design table lists a 30 psf ground snow load, a real input to the rafter check for any added array.13

Code patchwork

Building codes are uniform under the MBPS, but the NEC and fire code editions vary: 2020 NEC and 2021 IFC in Baltimore City, 2026 NEC in Baltimore County after August 31, 2026, and NFPA 1 elsewhere.14,2,8

HOAs

Covenant rules that raise cost at least 5% or cut production at least 10% are unenforceable against roof or wall solar the owner controls.15

Frost and ice

Baltimore City's design table lists a 30-inch frost depth and a 13 F winter design temperature, relevant for ground mounts and conduit runs.13

Permitting in Maryland

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.

Baltimore Gas and Electric BGE

Delivers electricity to more than 1.3 million customers in central Maryland. After approval BGE sends an interconnection agreement within five business days, and the customer returns a Certificate of Completion with proof of local inspection before operating.20,19

Interconnection page ↗

Pepco

Serves Maryland and DC customers; interconnection applications go through its online portal, with separate Maryland forms and fees.21

Interconnection page ↗

Delmarva Power Delmarva

Serves Maryland and Delaware customers; applications use its online portal with Maryland-specific forms and fees.22

Interconnection page ↗
Export compensation. Maryland law still requires net metering tariffs identical to the customer's regular rate, open until customer generation statewide reaches 3,000 MW. In a month when generation exceeds use the customer pays only customer charges, and net excess can accrue for up to 12 months ending in April or, except for co-op and municipal customers, indefinitely.23

What we capture on every Maryland survey

One standard, one visit, the same record in Maryland 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

Maryland solar survey FAQ

Which NEC edition applies to solar in Maryland?

It depends on the jurisdiction. Baltimore County enforces the 2026 NEC for electrical permits issued after August 31, 2026, while Baltimore City's codes adopt the 2020 NEC, so confirm with the AHJ.2,3,1

Which IRC edition applies in Maryland?

The 2021 IRC through the Maryland Building Performance Standards, effective at state level May 29, 2023. Rules to adopt the 2024 IRC were proposed on June 26, 2026.5,7

Does Maryland still have full retail net metering?

Yes, as of September 2026. The tariff must match the customer's normal rate, excess generation carries forward for 12 months ending in April or indefinitely, and the program is open until 3,000 MW statewide.23

Can a Maryland HOA stop me from installing solar?

Not with unreasonable limits. Restrictions that increase cost at least 5% or reduce output at least 10% are unenforceable for roofs or walls the owner controls, though associations can restrict common areas.15

Are Maryland counties required to offer automated solar permitting?

The Brighter Tomorrow Act required counties and municipalities to put in place software for tracking and approving residential solar, storage and panel upgrade permits by August 1, 2025, with some exceptions.16

Services and further reading

Metro pages for Maryland: Baltimore.

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://labor.maryland.gov/labor/build/buildmech.shtml
  2. https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/pai/electrical-inspections
  3. https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/building-codes/III/3-101
  4. https://labor.maryland.gov/labor/build/buildcodes.shtml
  5. https://labor.maryland.gov/labor/build/buildcodeseffdates.shtml
  6. https://labor.maryland.gov/labor/build/buildstatecodes.shtml
  7. https://labor.maryland.gov/labor/build/buildnews.shtml
  8. https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/29.06.01.06.aspx
  9. https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/29.06.01.08.aspx
  10. https://labor.maryland.gov/labor/build/buildfirecodes.shtml
  11. https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/building-codes/VIII/1204
  12. https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/building-codes/VIII/8-101
  13. https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/building-codes/X/301
  14. https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/building-codes
  15. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp&section=2-119&enactments=false
  16. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0783?ys=2024RS
  17. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2024RS/Chapters_noln/CH_595_sb0783e.pdf
  18. https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/pai/application/solar
  19. https://www.bge.com/smart-energy/my-green-power-connection/developers-contractors/applying-for-interconnection
  20. https://www.bge.com/about-us
  21. https://www.pepco.com/smart-energy/my-green-power-connection/developers-contractors/applying-for-interconnection
  22. https://www.delmarva.com/smart-energy/my-green-power-connection/developers-contractors/applying-for-interconnection
  23. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gpu&section=7-306&enactments=false

Researched September 30, 2026.

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