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Home  /  Solar site surveys  /  Pennsylvania  /  Philadelphia

Solar site surveys · Philadelphia, PA

Solar site surveys in Philadelphia

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

Book a 15-min callPermitting in Philadelphia
NEC 2020Electrical code in effect
3AHJs covered here
48 hrsSurvey to deliverable
Nationwide500+ technicians
Short answer

In Philadelphia, the Department of Licenses and Inspections issues solar permits through eCLIPSE, and a PECO interconnection application must be filed first. Rooftop systems of 10 kW AC or less on one- or two-family homes that meet the EZ standard need only an electrical permit and no plans, but the July 2026 standard limits EZ to roofs of 2:12 slope or flatter. A licensed electrical contractor does the work and a licensed third-party electrical inspection agency performs the inspections.

What changes in Philadelphia

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

PA · PHILADELPHIAPhiladelphia
Code stack
2020NEC 2020National Electrical Code · effective Jan 1, 2026. The UCC adopts the NEC by reference through the I-Codes; since January 1, 2026 the 2021 IBC and IRC reference the 2020 NEC, replacing the 2017 edition referenced by the 2018 codes. Permit applications filed before July 1, 2026 in Philadelphia could still choose the 2018 code set, so older permits may follow the earlier edition.1,2,3
2021IRC 2021The 2021 IRC, with amendments recommended by the UCC Review and Advisory Council, applies statewide from January 1, 2026. State law lets a permit be issued under the prior code if the design or construction contract was signed earlier and the application comes within six months.1,3,4
2018IFC 2018The Philadelphia Fire Code is based on the 2018 IFC; the 2021 IFC applies only where the 2021 building codes reference it.5
Rooftop fire access. For one- and two-family homes, the 2021 IRC's Section R324.6 applies as adopted (Pennsylvania's list of IRC exclusions does not remove it): at least two 36-inch pathways from eave to ridge on separate roof planes, plus 18-inch clear setbacks on each side of a horizontal ridge, widening to 36 inches when the array covers more than a third of the plan-view roof area. Roofs of 2:12 or flatter are exempt.4,6,1

Climate and site factors

Flat rowhouse roofs

The EZ standard now applies only to roofs of 2:12 or less, allows ballasted racking on flat roofs, and caps equipment at 5 psf, 45 psf point load and 18 inches above the roof; pitched roofs go through full building-permit review.7

Wind design

EZ installations need pre-engineered ballasted or attached racking designed for 115 mph wind, up from 90 mph in the 2020 version of the standard.7,8

Service size

Under the EZ standard, load-side connections are capped at 3.8 kW AC of inverter output on a 100 A service and 7.6 kW AC on a 200 A service; larger systems need a line-side tap meeting 2020 NEC minimums, and a 60 A PECO disconnect goes on the outside of the building.7

Trusses and structure

Engineered-truss roofs are excluded from EZ unless a professional engineer has inspected the framing and confirms it can carry the array, and the electrical contractor signs for the structural installation.7

Code year

Philadelphia requires the 2021 code set for all applications received on or after July 1, 2026; its fire code stays on the 2018 IFC except where the 2021 building codes point to the 2021 IFC.1,5

Permitting in Philadelphia

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

Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I)

Every solar job needs an electrical permit, and projects outside the EZ standard also need a building permit for the panels and structure with plans. Apply online in eCLIPSE or at the Permit and License Center, attaching a screenshot of the submitted PECO interconnection application and the electrical contract; the filing fee is $25 for one- and two-family homes.9

Official page ↗

L&I EZ permit standard for solar PV

The EZ path covers roof-mounted systems up to 10 kW AC on one- or two-family homes, excluding roofs steeper than 2:12, systems with battery storage, and engineered-truss roofs without an engineer's letter. Equipment must stay under 5 psf and 18 inches above the roof, racking must be designed for 115 mph wind, and a 3-foot clearance is kept on at least one side.7,10

Official page ↗

Philadelphia Historical Commission

Properties on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places need Historical Commission approval before L&I will accept the permit; in eCLIPSE the commission reviews the uploaded plans electronically and reports its approval to L&I.9,7

Official page ↗

Across the metro

Suburban townships and boroughs in Pennsylvania each enforce the UCC themselves or through contracted inspectors, or fall to third-party agencies if they opted out; New Jersey suburbs follow New Jersey's code and utilities.3

Pennsylvania-wide rules that still apply

Utilities and interconnection

PECO is the electric utility for Philadelphia, and the city requires proof of a submitted PECO interconnection application before it accepts a solar permit.9

PECO

The electric utility for Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania. The installer files the interconnection application with PECO before work starts; base fees run from $100 for inverter systems of 10 kW or less (Level 1) to $250 plus $1 per kW for Level 2, and PECO swaps in a net-capable smart meter.9,13

Interconnection page ↗
Export compensation. As of September 2026, PUC rules require utilities to net meter residential systems up to 50 kW, crediting exports each month at the full retail rate including generation, transmission and distribution; kWh still banked at the end of the year ending May 31 are paid at the price to compare. The PUC's June 4, 2026 PPL rate order added new treatment for large 'no-load' net-metered facilities built mainly to export, so check the current tariff for projects outside ordinary rooftop use.14,15

What we capture on every Philadelphia survey

The same capture standard as every other Pennsylvania 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

Philadelphia solar survey FAQ

Can I get a solar permit online in Philadelphia?

Yes. L&I accepts solar electrical and building permit applications through eCLIPSE, and projects that meet the EZ standard need only an electrical permit with no plans.9

Which Philadelphia solar projects qualify for an EZ permit?

Roof-mounted systems of 10 kW AC or less on a one- or two-family home that is not historic, on a roof of 2:12 slope or flatter, with no battery storage, and that meet the other EZ conditions such as the 5 psf weight limit.7,9

Do I need PECO approval before a Philadelphia solar permit?

You need to have submitted it. L&I asks for a screenshot of the PECO interconnection application dashboard showing location, capacity, installation type and status.9

Who inspects solar installations in Philadelphia?

The owner or their agent hires a licensed electrical inspection agency to do all inspections, and a licensed electrical contractor must perform the work.9

Which electrical code applies to solar in Philadelphia?

The Philadelphia Electrical Code is based on the 2020 NEC under the 2021 code adoption, which is mandatory for applications received on or after July 1, 2026.5,1

Services and further reading

State-level detail is on the Pennsylvania 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://www.phila.gov/media/20251021080549/B-2501-Implementation-of-2021-International-Codes.pdf
  2. https://www.manheimtownship.org/DocumentCenter/View/9965/Code-Change-Memo-2026
  3. https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dli/programs-services/labor-management-relations/bureau-of-occupational-and-industrial-safety/uniform-construction-code-home
  4. https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/034/chapter403/s403.21.html
  5. https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/resources/applicable-codes/
  6. https://up.codes/s/roof-access-and-pathways
  7. https://www.phila.gov/media/20260806124929/PB_019_F-EZ-Solar-PV-System-Standard-2021-Code.pdf
  8. https://www.phila.gov/media/20201013090031/Solar-PV-System-Standard-10.13.2020.pdf
  9. https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/apply-for-a-permit/building-and-repair-permits/get-a-permit-to-install-solar-panels/
  10. https://www.phila.gov/documents/ez-permit-applications-permits-without-plans/
  11. https://solarunitedneighbors.org/resources/homeowners-associations-and-solar-access-in-pennsylvania/
  12. https://www.pahouse.com/InTheNews/NewsRelease/?id=144258
  13. https://www.buckinghampa.org/media/6415/pecointerconnectionbrochure2024.pdf
  14. https://law.cornell.edu/regulations/pennsylvania/52-Pa-Code-SS-75-13
  15. https://www.puc.pa.gov/press-release/2026/puc-issues-decision-in-ppl-electric-rate-proceeding-06042026

Researched September 30, 2026.

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