Permits are the least exciting part of a solar project and one of the most important. They are how a stranger with a clipboard confirms that your system will not start a fire, shock a firefighter, or send power the wrong way down a utility line. This article belongs to our installation and installers hub, and it explains what to expect so you can ask the right questions.
Why permits exist
A rooftop solar system is both an electrical generator and a structural addition. Panels add weight and wind load to your roof. The wiring carries direct current at voltages that can be dangerous. The inverter connects to the grid and has to behave properly when the grid fails. Each of those concerns has rules behind it, and the permit and inspection process is how the rules are enforced.
The details vary a lot. In Canada, building permits are issued by municipalities, while electrical permits and inspections are handled under provincial arrangements. In Ontario, for example, the Electrical Safety Authority oversees electrical inspections. Other provinces use their own authority or a safety services body. Always check with your local building department and the provincial electrical authority.
The two main permits
An electrical permit covers the wiring, inverter, disconnects, grounding and connection to your panel. It is nearly always required for a grid-tied system, and a licensed electrician or contractor holds it.
A building permit covers the roof attachment and any structural questions. Some municipalities require one for all roof-mounted solar, others only above a certain size or when the roof framing needs to be checked. Ground mounts and carports often need separate approvals, including zoning rules about setbacks. Our guide to mounting options covers those variations.
Heritage districts, condominium bylaws and homeowner associations can add their own approval steps, so ask early.
Who pulls the permit?
In nearly every residential job, your installer applies. The fee is usually folded into the contract. Still, you are the owner of the property, and an unpermitted system can cause trouble with insurance and at resale. Get copies of the permit and the final inspection report, and file them with your house papers.
If someone suggests skipping permits to save time or money, treat that as a warning about the whole company. The topic of owner-installed systems is discussed in our guide to DIY solar in Canada, where permit rules matter even more.
What inspectors check
Inspectors work from the electrical code and the permit drawings. In broad terms they look for:
- Correct wire sizes, conduit and protection devices
- Grounding and bonding of panels, racking and the inverter
- Properly labelled disconnects and warning signs
- Equipment that carries a recognised certification mark such as CSA
- Rapid shutdown arrangements that meet the code
- A safe, accessible connection to the main panel
On the structural side, a building inspector may check attachment points, flashing and any framing changes. You do not need to climb up and watch. Be home or make sure someone can give access to the electrical panel.
Rapid shutdown in plain terms
When firefighters respond to a house fire, they need to know that the wiring on the roof will not shock them. Rapid shutdown requirements, found in the electrical code, call for the rooftop conductors to drop to a low, safe voltage within a short time after you trigger a shutdown switch or the grid or AC supply is cut. Modern microinverters and optimizers can do this at each panel, and string inverters can use added devices.
Rapid shutdown is a different safety feature from anti-islanding, which is the inverter’s automatic shutdown during a grid outage to protect line crews. Both are part of a compliant system, and your installer should be able to explain each one.
Certification and licences
Look for certification marks such as CSA on panels, inverters, batteries and disconnects. That means the product was tested to a recognised standard. Check that the installer, or the electricians they employ, hold the electrical licences the province requires, and ask about any other provincial licences or registrations. Our article on choosing a solar installer has a list of what to request, and you can check the authority’s website to confirm a licence is current.
Permits and the utility are two different things
A passed inspection does not mean you may switch on. The utility has its own application, review and sometimes a meter change before it grants permission to operate. That process is covered in our explainer on the solar interconnection process. The sequence in practice, from site visit to switch-on, appears in solar installation step by step.
Fees and timing
Permit fees are often a few hundred dollars or less for residential systems, though they differ by municipality and are usually included in the quote. Review times range from days to several weeks. If your quote lists permit costs separately, ask what is included. If delays happen, ask your installer for status updates rather than assuming the paperwork is moving.
Before you sign
Ask which permits the job needs, who applies for each, whether the fees are included, and what happens if an inspection fails. Request a written promise to deliver the passed inspection report and the utility’s permission to operate. A company that handles this routinely will answer in a few sentences.
Quick answers
Do I need a permit to install solar panels in Canada?
Almost always, yes. Electrical work on a grid-connected system requires a permit and inspection, and many municipalities also want a building permit for the roof structure. Check with your local authority and your installer.
Who pulls the permit, me or the installer?
Usually the licensed contractor applies and pays the fee, which is often built into the quote. Ask for a copy of the permit and of the passed inspection report.
What is rapid shutdown?
It is an electrical code requirement that lets rooftop wiring be de-energised quickly so firefighters and others are not exposed to high voltage on the roof. Your installer designs it into the system.
Where to verify
Rules and prices change. Confirm current details with the official bodies below.