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Home  /  Solar site surveys  /  Ohio  /  Columbus

Solar site surveys · Columbus, OH

Solar site surveys in Columbus

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

Book a 15-min callPermitting in Columbus
NEC 2023Electrical code in effect
2AHJs covered here
48 hrsSurvey to deliverable
Nationwide500+ technicians
Short answer

In Columbus, Building and Zoning Services reviews rooftop PV plans stamped by an Ohio architect or engineer, a city-registered electrical contractor pulls the electrical permit, and a third-party special inspector holding NABCEP certification or a PE license signs off the finished system. Columbus design values are 20 psf ground snow and 90 mph wind, and AEP Ohio handles most interconnections.

What changes in Columbus

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

OH · COLUMBUSColumbus
Code stack
2023NEC 2023National Electrical Code · effective Mar 1, 2024. The 2024 Ohio Building Code's electrical chapter uses the 2023 NEC from March 1, 2024, and the Board of Building Standards moved the Residential Code of Ohio's electrical chapter to the 2023 NEC in the same amendment round (the rule on file shows April 15, 2024). The code is statewide, so certified local departments cannot pick a different edition.1,2,3,4
2018IRC 2018The 2019 Residential Code of Ohio (OAC 4101:8) is based on the 2018 IRC and covers one-, two- and three-family dwellings; in July 2026 the Board opened a five-year review of the RCO rules with stakeholder comments.5,6
2021IBC 2021The 2024 Ohio Building Code, based on the 2021 IBC, has applied to commercial and multifamily (four or more units) projects since March 1, 2024.7,1
2021IFC 2021The Ohio Fire Code (OAC 1301:7-7), effective November 20, 2025, adopts most of the 2021 IFC but takes Chapter 12 (energy systems, including rooftop PV) from the 2024 IFC.8,9
Rooftop fire access. Homes under the Residential Code of Ohio follow R324.6: two 36-inch eave-to-ridge pathways on separate planes (one on the street or driveway side), 18-inch ridge setbacks rising to 36 inches above 33% array coverage, and no panels below an emergency escape opening. The Ohio Fire Code's Section 1205 (2024 IFC) adds that roof access points must be approved by the fire code official and requires a red dual-power-source warning sign with 3-inch white letters.10,9

Climate and site factors

Snow and wind

Columbus's CIC #09 fills in the RCO design table with a 20 psf ground snow load, 90 mph wind, 32-inch frost depth and required ice-barrier underlayment.11

Special inspection

Every PV system in the city needs a designated special inspector (NABCEP-certified or a PE) who certifies the install matches the approved drawings, NEC Article 690 and the building code.12

Stamped structural

BZS wants engineer or architect stamped drawings showing the roof can carry the array, so framing size, spacing and span are needed from the site visit.12

Zoning

Rooftop panels are allowed by right, do not count toward roof height, and are exempt from commercial screening rules, but historic and design review areas need a Certificate of Appropriateness first.12

Permitting in Columbus

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

City of Columbus Building and Zoning Services (BZS)

Applicants follow CIC #40 and email the universal permit application and stamped drawings to BZS intake; complete emailed submittals can be approved within about 3 business days after fees are paid. Rooftop solar is allowed by right in every zoning district, and a special inspector from the city's approved list must complete the PV inspection checklist.12

Official page ↗

Columbus historic and design review commissions

Projects in historic or design review areas such as the Downtown District, German Village and Italian Village need a Certificate of Appropriateness before documents go to BZS.12

Official page ↗

Across the metro

Each suburb or county is its own AHJ only if the Board of Building Standards has certified its building department; otherwise the RCO requires no residential plan approval.13

Ohio-wide rules that still apply

Utilities and interconnection

AEP Ohio, headquartered in nearby Gahanna, serves Columbus and most of central Ohio; applications go through its PowerClerk portal.16,17

AEP Ohio

Serves about 1.5 million customers in 61 Ohio counties, including Columbus. Interconnection requests go through AEP's PowerClerk portal under PUCO rules in OAC 4901:1-22 and IEEE 1547, and qualifying renewable systems can take its Net Energy Metering Service.16,17

Interconnection page ↗
Export compensation. Under PUCO rule 4901:1-10-28 (current version effective April 8, 2024), utilities net usage and exports over each monthly billing cycle; a net excess becomes a monetary credit at the energy component of the utility's standard service offer, carried forward on future bills but not paid out and forfeitable if unused or service ends. Suppliers under retail choice may set their own net metering terms.15,18

What we capture on every Columbus survey

The same capture standard as every other Ohio 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

Columbus solar survey FAQ

How do I submit a rooftop solar permit in Columbus?

Email the universal building permit application with stamped drawings to BZS intake (or mail or drop it off); after fees are paid, complete emailed submittals can be approved in about 3 business days.12

Who inspects solar installations in Columbus?

A third-party special inspector from the city's approved list, holding NABCEP certification or a PE license, completes the Photovoltaic System Inspection Checklist and sends it to the city.12

Which codes apply to a Columbus home solar project?

The 2019 Residential Code of Ohio with the Columbus Building Code and the 2023 NEC for one- to three-family homes; larger buildings follow the 2024 Ohio Building Code.4

What snow load does Columbus use?

Columbus's published RCO design criteria list a 20 psf ground snow load and a 90 mph wind speed.11

Services and further reading

State-level detail is on the Ohio 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.

  1. https://codes.ohio.gov/assets/laws/administrative-code/rules/4101/1/4101$1-27-01_eff_3_1_24.pdf
  2. https://codes.ohio.gov/assets/laws/administrative-code/rules/4101/8/4101$8-34-01_eff_4_15_24.pdf
  3. https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/com.ohio.gov/documents/AG101%20Notice%20package.pdf
  4. https://www.columbus.gov/Business-Development/Building-Zoning-Services/Contractor-Information/Getting-Started-Commercial-Residential-Codes
  5. https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-4101:8-3-01
  6. https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/industrial-compliance/boards/board-of-building-standards/building-codes-and-interpretations/proposed-obc-opc-and+rco-rules-amendments
  7. https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/com.ohio.gov/documents/2024%20Ohio%20Building%20Code%20Rules%20Effective%20March%201,%202024.pdf
  8. https://codes.ohio.gov/assets/laws/administrative-code/rules/1301/7/1301$7-7-01_eff_11_20_25.pdf
  9. https://codes.ohio.gov/assets/laws/administrative-code/rules/1301/7/1301$7-7-12_eff_11_20_25.pdf
  10. https://codes.ohio.gov/assets/laws/administrative-code/rules/4101/8/4101$8-3-01_eff_7_1_19.pdf
  11. https://www.columbus.gov/files/sharedassets/city/v/1/building-and-zoning/document-library/cic-09-climatic-and-geographic-design-approved.pdf
  12. https://www.columbus.gov/files/sharedassets/city/v/1/building-and-zoning/document-library/rooftop-solar-installations.pdf
  13. https://codes.ohio.gov/assets/laws/administrative-code/rules/4101/8/4101$8-1-01_eff_7_1_19.pdf
  14. https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-5312.16
  15. https://codes.ohio.gov/assets/laws/administrative-code/authenticated/4901/1/10/4901$1-10-28_20240408.pdf
  16. https://www.aep.com/news/stories/view/10823/
  17. https://www.aepohio.com/business/builders/generating-equipment
  18. https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-4901:1-10-28

Researched September 30, 2026.

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