Alameda County

A city address is usually permitted by the city, not the county — but not always, and some authorities keep building and hand electrical to someone else. Getting this wrong costs the whole submittal, because every requirement below belongs to whoever actually holds jurisdiction. Check the overlays in the same pass: an HOA, a historic district, a windstorm certification or a system-size cap can reshape the design, and all of them are cheaper to find now than after the array is laid out.

• Is this authority the AHJ for residential solar at this address? Yes — Alameda County PWA Building Inspection Department is the AHJ for residential solar in the unincorporated county 95% · adopting ordinance (BOS item, 7 Nov 2022, Ord. 2022-58)
• What does this authority permit itself, and what does it delegate? Both — the County permits and inspects building and electrical itself. Planning/zoning (CDA) is not required for small residential rooftop PV; Fire (ACFD) reviews only PV projects that go to plan review 90% · issued County building permit + job card
• Is a permit required for a residential rooftop PV system? Yes — a permit is required 95% · County permit-exemption handout (2025 CBC)
• Is there a separate electrical permit, or is it combined? Combined — one combo Building+Electrical permit 90% · issued County building permit
• Is a HOA or architectural approval required first? No — HOA/association approval may not be required or used as a condition. Ord. Ch. 15.08 Sec. 480.3.7: 'Approval of an application shall not be based on or conditioned on the approval of an association, as defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code' 90% · adopting ordinance Sec. 480.3.7
• Is there a historic-district review? No — 'Zoning/Planning review is NOT required for small residential rooftop PV systems (California Gov. Code, Section 65850.5)' 60% · County guideline (2022 CBC)
• Is a wind or windstorm certification required? No — no wind or windstorm certification exists in this jurisdiction 60% · County forms and resources index
• Is a Specific Use Permit or Council approval ever required? No — review is administrative and non-discretionary; no Specific Use Permit or Board approval. Ord. 480.3: applications 'shall be processed in accordance with Government Code Section 65850.5. The building official shall implement the expedited, streamlined permitting process ... for the administrative, nondiscretionary review'. The only ground for refusal is a written 'specific, adverse impact' finding based on objective public health or safety standards 82% · adopting ordinance Sec. 480.2–480.3
• Is there a system-size cap on residential generation? No cap on generation size, but three thresholds gate the fast routes: (a) 10 kW AC nameplate (or 30 kW thermal) is the ordinance definition of a 'small residential rooftop solar energy system' entitled to expedited non-discretionary review; (b) 35 kW / 35 kVA per system is the ceiling for the $280 flat fee and the over-the-counter permit; (c) the module array must not exceed the maximum legal building height of the zoning district. The instant/Simple Solar path additionally caps at 400A service, 225A service disconnect, 225A busbars, 600V max DC, single phase, up to 2 string inverters 80% · adopting ordinance + fee schedule + eligibility checklist

Several authorities require the electrical permit to be pulled by a licensed electrician, or require the contractor to be registered with them BEFORE applying. Registration is not same-day. This is second on the list rather than fourth because it is the step most likely to stop the job before the drawings matter.

• Who is allowed to pull the electrical permit? Either — a California-licensed contractor of class B, C-10 or C-46, or the property owner as owner-builder 80% · County guideline: Small Residential Rooftop Solar PV Permits (2022 CBC)
• Must the contractor be registered with this authority before applying? No — no prior contractor registration with the County; the County business licence fee (0.125% of valuation) is collected at permit issuance, not beforehand 65% · fee schedule (Schedule A, eff. 1 Jul 2024)
• Is a homeowner permitted to self-install and self-permit? Yes — owner-builder self-permit is available 70% · County building permit application (bundled in the ground-mount PV checklist, dated 1/1/2026)

Almost everywhere wants a site plan, a one-line or three-line electrical diagram, equipment cut sheets with listings, and a structural attachment detail. Build it against the published checklist rather than the last jurisdiction you worked in — the checklist is what the reviewer marks against.

• What documents make up a complete submittal? Over-the-counter roof PV: permit application via the portal, plus plans and specifications prepared by a CA-licensed architect, engineer or qualified contractor, showing job address, owner name/address, and the preparer's name, address and signature — available at permit issuance and on site at inspection. No plan review is performed at issuance. Where plan review IS required (ground mount, non-residential, non-listed equipment): one complete PDF containing cover sheet (address, APN, engineer contact, scope, applicable code references, occupancy/construction type), sheet index, site plan, array plans, foundation plans and structural details, structural calculations, electrical plans, plus C&D debris form, and geotechnical / special-inspection forms as needed 82% · County checklist: Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Ground-Mounted, 1/1/2026
• How many copies, and in what format? Electronic only — 'Submit one complete PDF file (not separate files for each trade)' through the Electronic Online Portal. Electronic stamps and signatures accepted; for expedited small residential rooftop solar a wet signature shall not be required 85% · County checklist, 1/1/2026
• Is a site plan required, and what must it show? Yes. Site plan must show: all property lines with dimensions; all structures and their distances to property lines; easements; any site work (landscaping, retaining walls, pools); any septic system; utility meter locations (gas, electric, water); north arrow and drawing scale 80% · County checklist, 1/1/2026
• Is a one-line / three-line diagram required? Yes — a one-line diagram of the system is required on the electrical plan 65% · California Solar Permitting Guidebook 4th ed. (adopted by reference in Ord. 15.08 Sec. 480.3.2)
• Is a structural PE stamp required, and at what threshold? No stamp for the over-the-counter path if max installed PV weight is 5 lbs/ft2 and no more than 40 lbs at any single support point, max height 18 inches above roof, and the building is a previously County-permitted structure. Where plan review is required: 'provide structural calculations ... The structural calculations shall address both vertical and lateral forces, and shall be wet stamped and signed by a licensed engineer or architect registered in the State of California' 85% · County guideline (2022 CBC) + issued permit + Simple Solar eligibility checklist
• Is an electrical PE stamp required, and at what threshold? Not required for residential. 'Electrical engineer required for commercial PV projects (Calif. Business & Professions Code 5537 & 5538)' 80% · County checklist, 1/1/2026

Most authorities now take the whole application through a portal, and several states cap or constrain what a residential solar permit may cost. Check whether plan check is billed separately before you quote the job.

• Which permit portal does this authority use? Alameda County Permit Portal at https://acpermit.acgov.org/permit/portal/#/ — the software identifies itself as 'Maintstar Permit Public' (MAINTSTAR) 85% · department page + portal landing page
• Can the whole application be completed online? Yes — 'Apply for building permits, submit plans, schedule inspections and check permit status through the Alameda County Permit Portal'; payment by credit card online; 'All applications, plans and supporting documents shall be submitted through our Electronic Online Portal'; no wet signature required for expedited small residential rooftop solar 88% · department page + County checklist 1/1/2026
• What does a residential solar permit cost? $280 base ('Residential Photo-voltaic or other renewable energy system less than 35 Kva per system, when no plan review is required'; $140 for each additional system) + $30 combo permit processing fee + valuation-based add-ons: business licence 0.125% of valuation, residential SMIP 0.013%, State CBSC $1 per $25,000, document imaging 1% of permit fee, stormwater 4% of building permit fee, plus 3% card fee. Typical total for a plain roof PV job ~$335–$400. Add $140 for a battery/ESS line and $140 for a service/sub-panel line where applicable 85% · Board of Supervisors refund worksheet (28 Oct 2025) + Fee Schedule A
• How is the fee calculated? Flat — $280 flat per PV system under 35 kVA where no plan review is required; ancillary fees are valuation-based 85% · fee schedule (Schedule A, eff. 1 Jul 2024)
• Is there a separate plan-check fee? No plan-check fee on the over-the-counter path (the $280 rate is expressly 'when no plan review is required'). Where plan review is required, plan review is charged separately: building plan review 80% of the building permit fee, $140 minimum; 'Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical work only' 80% of permit fees or $140 minimum per trade 80% · fee schedule (Schedule A)

Interconnection is a separate process from the permit and usually the longer pole. Where the utility does not depend on the permit being issued, running both at once is the single biggest saving available on a residential job.

• What is the stated plan-review turnaround? Over-the-counter roof PV: no plan review — permit issued over the counter / online, no appointment required during permit processing hours. PV requiring plan review: intake 5–10 business days, first review 20–30 business days, subsequent reviews 10–15 business days 78% · County checklist 1/1/2026 + County guideline + Timelines handout
• How long is an issued permit valid before it expires? One year from issuance. Renewable once for up to a further year on written request before expiry (renewal fee $140); the building official may set a SHORTER period for short-term projects, and 'solar system installations' are named as an example of such projects 85% · adopting ordinance (Ord. 2022-58, Ch. 15.08 Sec. 105.5)
• Which utility handles interconnection here? Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) 90% · County inspection job card + County guideline
• Where does the utility sit in the sequence? Parallel — the County permit is independent of PG&E. Ord. 480.3.6: 'The building official's approval of the application does not authorize an applicant to connect a small residential rooftop solar energy system to the local utility provider's electricity grid.' PG&E approval/PTO comes after the County final inspection ('After passing the County's final inspection, the permit holder may need to contact PG&E for approval prior to activating the system'), and a PG&E AIC letter can be a prior-to-issuance condition on plan-review projects 75% · County guideline + adopting ordinance Sec. 480.3.6

The NEC edition a jurisdiction enforces is often a cycle behind the newest one published, and local amendments sit on top of it. Rapid shutdown, conductor sizing and labelling all change between editions, so the edition in force is the first thing to establish, not the last.

• Which NEC edition is in force? Other — 2025 California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3), in force since 1 January 2026. The CEC 2025 is based on NFPA 70 (NEC) 2023 85% · County checklist 1/1/2026 + County permit-exemption handout (2025 CBC)
• Which building code edition is in force? 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) and 2025 California Residential Code (Part 2.5), in force from 1 January 2026, adopted as Alameda County Ordinance Code Ch. 15.08 88% · County permit-exemption handout (2025 CBC)
• Are there local amendments to any of the above? Yes — the County makes local amendments. The prior cycle (Ord. 2022-58) repealed and re-adopted Ch. 15.08 Building, 15.12 Electrical, 15.16 Mechanical, 15.20 Plumbing and 15.24 Housing with extensive County amendments (marked [BID]), including added Sec. 480 for small residential rooftop solar, added Sec. 105.5 expiration/renewal, added Sec. 110.7 inspection record card and 110.8 reinspections. The current handout is headed '2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE & ADOPTED COUNTY ORDINANCES' 80% · adopting ordinance (2022 cycle) + CBSC 2025 filing list
• What is the installation judged against? The 2025 California Building Standards Code as adopted and amended by the Alameda County Building Ordinance (Ch. 15.08 Building, Ch. 15.12 Electrical). For over-the-counter PV the County performs no plan review at all: 'No code review has been performed for this PV permit. Contractor shall provide plans & manufacturer's specs on site for inspector's review and install PV system according to Calif. Codes' — so the installation is judged at inspection, against the California Codes and the approved plans 85% · issued County permit, special condition #1.00

Ridge setbacks and roof access pathways are fire-service requirements and they constrain the array layout. They are the most common cause of a redesign after the fire department comments on a plan set.

• What ridge setback and access pathways are required? As stated by the County (2022-cycle wording, per California State Fire Marshal Guidelines for Fire Department Roof Access): panels shall not be installed closer than 3 ft from ridges, for Fire Dept smoke ventilation operation. For roofs sloped greater than 2:12 with panels — hip roof: provide a 3 ft access pathway from eave to ridge; single ridge roof: provide TWO 3 ft access pathways from eave to ridge; hips and valleys roof: provide 18 inches clear on each side of hips or valleys where panels are on both sides 65% · issued County permit special conditions + County guideline

Which rapid-shutdown rule applies follows directly from the NEC edition in force, and the initiation device has to be at a location the fire service can reach and identify. This is inspected, and it is labelled.

• Is rapid shutdown required, and to which NEC edition? Yes — required by the California Electrical Code edition in force, i.e. CEC 2025 (NEC 2023) Art. 690.12 for permits filed from 1 Jan 2026. The County adds no rapid-shutdown rule of its own; it states only 'install PV system according to Calif. Codes' and the Simple Solar checklist requires the 'Current applicable California Electrical Code (CEC)' 65% · County Simple Solar eligibility checklist + County permit conditions

The NEC sets a baseline for permanent markings at the service equipment and the disconnecting means. On top of that, an authority may specify its own wording, and the utility may specify more again. Where any of them writes its own text, a generic off-the-shelf label set will not pass — this is the detail most often fixed on a return visit.

• Which placards does this authority require at the service equipment? The County requires marking per the California Electrical Code and adds no list of its own. Its only express placard requirement is permit special condition #7: 'Post warning sign at each PV disconnect according to CEC.' Beyond that the County adopts, by ordinance, the checklists and standard plans of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook, whose signage table lists: WARNING: ELECTRIC SHOCK HAZARD... (inverter and battery enclosure); WARNING: ELECTRIC SHOCK HAZARD. THE DC CONDUCTORS OF THIS PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM ARE UNGROUNDED AND MAY BE ENERGIZED (junction/combiner boxes, disconnects); PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM DISCONNECT (AC and DC disconnects); operating current/voltage/max system voltage/short-circuit current (DC disconnects); RATED AC OUTPUT CURRENT / NOMINAL OPERATING AC VOLTAGE (point of interconnection); plaque or directory of service and PV disconnecting means (electrical service and inverter); WARNING! ELECTRIC SHOCK HAZARD. DO NOT TOUCH TERMINALS... (DC disconnect); WARNING: INVERTER OUTPUT CONNECTION DO NOT RELOCATE THIS OVERCURRENT DEVICE (inverter output OCPD); WARNING: PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SOURCE (conduit/raceways/enclosures); PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH RAPID SHUTDOWN (rapid shutdown initiation location) 75% · California Solar Permitting Guidebook Table 1 (adopted by reference) + County permit condition
• Does the authority specify placard wording of its own? No — the authority specifies no placard wording of its own; it defers to the CEC 80% · issued County permit special condition #7
• Does it specify letter height, colour or material? Nothing County-specific. Via the adopted Guidebook/CEC: PV power-source markings on conduit, raceways and cable assemblies use 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) minimum white letters on a red background, on reflective weather-resistant material, repeated every 10 ft, within 1 ft of turns or bends and within 1 ft above and below roof/ceiling, wall and barrier penetrations. Rapid-shutdown label likewise red background with white lettering. All labels 'shall be permanent and be suitable for the environment'. Separately, PG&E specifies its own: minimum 3/8 inch, all capitals, engraved phenolic or ANSI Z535.4 70% · California Solar Permitting Guidebook (adopted by reference)
• Is a site plan / facility map placard required, and what must it show? Yes, via the CEC rather than a County rule: 'A plaque or directory providing the location of the service disconnecting means and the photovoltaic system disconnecting means', posted at the electrical service and at the PV inverter if not at the same location. In addition PG&E requires 'a clear map and signs indicating the location of the disconnect switch' whenever the AC disconnect is not grouped with the meter panel, and a location map for any Net Generation Output Meter not grouped with the other meters 68% · PG&E doc 060559 Rev. 07 + adopted Guidebook table
• Does the UTILITY specify placards beyond the AHJ's? Yes. PG&E requires, beyond anything the County asks for: 'Permanently attached signage on the front that explains this is the ac disconnect switch for the generation. Example: "UTILITY AC DISCONNECT SWITCH"'; 'Labels shall be permanent and suitable for the environment and shall be engraved phenolic or comply with ANSI Z535.4. Lettering shall be a minimum 3/8" high and in all capitals'; 'When the disconnect switch is not grouped with the meter panel provide a map showing the location'; and if a Net Generation Output Meter is installed, proper labelling plus a location map where not grouped with the other meters and the disconnect 90% · PG&E Greenbook doc 060559 Rev. 07 (25 Mar 2022)
• Where must the labels be placed? County: 'at each PV disconnect' (per CEC). PG&E: on the FRONT of the AC disconnect switch enclosure. Per the adopted Guidebook/CEC: on AC and DC disconnects; on the inverter and battery enclosure; at each junction box, combiner box and disconnect with ungrounded circuits; at the interactive point of interconnection (usually the main service); at the electrical service and at the inverter if not co-located (plaque/directory); on the inverter output OCPD; on conduit, raceways and enclosures every 10 ft, at turns and above/below penetrations; at the rapid-shutdown initiation device 78% · issued County permit + PG&E 060559 + adopted Guidebook

Where the AC disconnect must sit relative to the meter is usually the utility's rule, not the building department's. Battery storage frequently carries its own permit, its own inspection and its own fire conditions.

• Where must the AC disconnect be, relative to the meter? PG&E rule, not a County rule. Required position: 'Located 10 feet or less, in line of sight, from PG&E's electric meter at the point of common coupling or interconnection', or in an approved meter room 10 ft or less in line of sight of the meter; installed between the PG&E meter and all generation sources; isolating generation only, not customer loads; same grade level as the meter if outdoors; lockable for a PG&E padlock with a 5/16-inch shaft (keyed locks not allowed); molded case circuit breakers and pull-out type disconnects are NOT acceptable. EXEMPTION: inverter-based systems on PG&E single-phase services up to 240 V may be exempted, as determined by PG&E, if the interconnected meter panel is self-contained (not transformer-rated), accepts form 'S' socket-based meters, is rated CL 320 or less continuous, and is single-phase 120/240 V or 120/208 V — which covers most ordinary residential retrofits 90% · PG&E Greenbook doc 060559 Rev. 07
• Must equipment be on a specific approved list? No County-specific approved-equipment list. Equipment must be listed and labelled and installed per its listing (CEC 110.3); non-listed electrical systems are pushed out of the over-the-counter route into plan review — the guideline names 'non-listed electrical systems' as an example of PV projects requiring plan review 70% · County guideline (2022 CBC)
• Are batteries permitted, and under what conditions? Yes, with conditions. Permit special condition: 'Any battery system on the PV will require additional Code review and permit.' The instant/Simple Solar path admits new rooftop residential PV with ESS only where: lithium-ion; building is three stories or less, occupancy group R-3; ESS less than 400 lbs in seismic areas; and ESS must meet the requirements of the California Electrical Code. Storage is routine in practice — a Feb 2025 County solar permit carried both a PV line and a 'Battery (ESS)' line 80% · County Simple Solar eligibility checklist + issued permit + BOS refund worksheet
• Is there a separate ESS permit or inspection? Yes — ESS is charged and permitted as a separate line: 'Battery (ESS) $140.00' on a County solar permit fee breakdown, and the permit special condition requires 'additional Code review and permit' for any battery system 80% · Board of Supervisors refund worksheet (28 Oct 2025)
• Is a ground mount treated as a structure? Yes — a ground mount is treated as a structure and cannot use the fast routes. The Simple Solar instant path excludes it outright ('No ground mounted systems'), and the ground-mount checklist requires Planning/Zoning verification first, Environmental Health release where there is an onsite wastewater system, foundation plans and structural details, structural calculations, and Fire Department review; permits are issued per parcel 85% · County checklist 1/1/2026 + Simple Solar eligibility checklist
• Is there a local rule on service upgrades or busbar sizing? Yes. (a) 'Obtain a separate permit when service panel upgrade is required but not covered by this permit' (permit special condition). (b) The instant/Simple Solar path is limited to: up to or equal to 400A service; up to or equal to 225A service disconnect; up to or equal to 225A busbars; 600V max per DC system; single phase only; no aluminium wires; max 2 DC strings in parallel in conduit; max 9 current-carrying conductors in a raceway (CEC 310.15(C)(1)); terminals rated 75°C, labelled for Cu, accepting min 8 AWG; no existing permanent generator set connected to the home's service 85% · County Simple Solar eligibility checklist + issued permit
• Is a specific mounting system or attachment spacing required? No specific mounting system or attachment spacing is prescribed, but three dimensional limits apply: max installed PV weight 5 lbs/ft2 and 40 lbs at each support point ('Provide adequate roof structural supports'); max installed PV height 18 inches above the roof surface at any point; the instant path allows only one racking system type and one module type per project 85% · County Simple Solar eligibility checklist + issued permit + guideline

Booking is a portal, a phone call or an email depending on the authority, and the notice required is rarely zero. Book before the work is finished rather than after — the lead time, not the work, is usually what sets the date.

• How is an inspection booked? Portal or Phone. Online Inspection Request at https://acpermit.acgov.org/Portal/#/, or the 24-hour automated inspection request line (510) 670-5434 (touch-tone IVR: permit number, inspection type code, date, AM/PM preference, callback number) 90% · County Automated Inspection Requests handout + County guideline + job card
• How much notice is required? Effectively zero business days' advance notice — but there is a hard cut-off: 'Inspection requests must be received before 12 A.M. on the day you want the inspection. Requests received after the cutoff time will have to be scheduled for another day that you select.' The same wording is printed on the inspection job card: 'INSPECTION REQUESTS MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE 12A.M. ON THE DAY OF INSPECTION' 85% · County Automated Inspection Requests handout + job card
• Are same-day or AM/PM windows offered? AM/PM preference, yes; same-day, no. 'Enter Your Preference for an A.M. or a P.M. Inspection. We cannot promise you will receive your preference but, where possible, our inspectors try to accommodate your preference.' The daily assignment is published: 'Daily Inspection Schedule will be posted at https://www.acpwa.org/building-inspection after 9:00 am on the day of inspection' 85% · County Daily Inspection Route Sheet (27 Aug 2026) + inspection handout

Some authorities inspect their own solar work; some delegate it, and a few do not inspect the PV equipment itself at all. Who is coming determines what they will look at.

• Does this AHJ perform its own final solar inspection? Yes — the County performs its own final solar inspection 90% · County Daily Inspection Route Sheet (27 Aug 2026) + adopting ordinance
• If delegated, to whom? Not delegated — Alameda County PWA Building Inspection Department, 399 Elmhurst Street Room 141, Hayward CA 94544, (510) 670-5440, performs it with its own staff. Alameda County Fire Department signs off separately where a Fire review applied ('OTHER AGENCY SIGN-OFFS: FIRE DEPT. – FRAME / FIRE DEPT. – FINAL' on the job card); PG&E issues the electric release (job card code 608) 85% · County inspection job card

A rough-in or mid-roof inspection, where one is required, has to happen before the work it covers is closed up. Missing a stage means opening something back up, and it is the most expensive kind of correction.

• Which inspections are required, and in what order? One consolidated inspection. 'A typical rooftop PV system only needs one consolidated inspection, which includes: Final Electrical (Required) – Code 605; Final Building (Required) – Code 607.' Ord. Sec. 480.4: 'For a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review, only one consolidated inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner. If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized.' Then PG&E Electric Release (code 608) closes the loop 85% · County guideline + adopting ordinance Sec. 480.4
• Is a rough-in or mid-roof inspection required? No — no rough-in or mid-roof inspection for a typical rooftop PV system; it is a single consolidated final 85% · adopting ordinance Sec. 480.4 + County guideline

The approved plan set, the permit, and the equipment listings should be on site and reachable. Inspectors routinely verify that installed equipment matches what was approved, and that the labels are the ones the plan set promised.

• Is there a published inspection checklist? No County-published solar INSPECTION checklist. What the County publishes is an 'Eligibility Checklist for Instant Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Residential Permit' (Version 1) and a 'Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Ground-Mounted' submittal checklist; the inspection checklist is adopted by reference from the California Solar Permitting Guidebook (Ord. Sec. 480.3.1–480.3.2) 68% · County Permit Forms & Resources index (full enumeration)
• What must be on site at inspection? Approved plans and manufacturer's specifications ('Contractor shall provide plans & manufacturer's specs on site for inspector's review'); the inspection record card / job card — 'THIS CARD MUST BE AVAILABLE TO BUILDING INSPECTOR AT JOBSITE', and Ord. Sec. 110.7 requires it posted or otherwise available until final approval; and a printed hard copy of the building permit and approved plans ('Print one hard copy of building permit and approved plans for use during building inspections'). Reinspection fees may be assessed where the card is not available or the approved plans are not readily available to the inspector 90% · issued County permit + job card + ordinance + County checklist 1/1/2026
• Does the inspector verify labels and listings? Yes. Because no code review is done at permit issuance, the inspection is where compliance is judged: the permit requires the contractor to 'provide plans & manufacturer's specs on site for inspector's review', requires 'Post warning sign at each PV disconnect according to CEC', and the adopted Guidebook inspection checklist has the inspector confirm 'Equipment installed, listed and labeled according to the approved plan', 'DC modules are properly marked and labeled', 'AC modules are properly marked and labeled', and 'PV system markings, labels and signs according to the approved plan' 72% · issued County permit conditions + adopted Guidebook inspection checklist

Passing gives you a final or an equivalent sign-off. That is not the same as permission to operate: PTO comes from the utility, and who tells the utility the inspection passed varies. A system left switched off for weeks is usually waiting on this handover.

• What is issued on pass? Final — the inspector signs off Final Electrical (605) and Final Building (607) on the inspection job card. No Certificate of Occupancy is issued for a PV retrofit (a CO is a change-of-occupancy instrument under Ord. Sec. 111.1, and the fee schedule charges $140 minimum to 'Issue official Certificate of Occupancy' as a separate service). The card's 'APPROVAL TO OCCUPY' block is not the solar path; PG&E Electric Release (608) follows separately 72% · County inspection job card + ordinance Sec. 111.1
• Who notifies the utility for PTO? Installer / permit holder. 'After passing the County's final inspection, the permit holder may need to contact PG&E for approval prior to activating the system.' Ord. Sec. 480.3.6: 'The building official's approval of the application does not authorize an applicant to connect ... The applicant may need to contact the local utility provider for approval prior to activating the system' 80% · County guideline + adopting ordinance Sec. 480.3.6
• Is there a re-inspection fee? $140.00 per hour, one hour minimum ('Additional inspection or Re-inspection Fees'). Inspections outside normal business hours: $210.00 per hour, two hours minimum. Not charged the first time a job is rejected for non-compliance; charged where inspection is called before the job is ready, where the record card is not posted, where approved plans are not available to the inspector, where access is not provided, or where there is deviation from plans. No further inspection is performed until the fee is paid 85% · fee schedule Schedule A + adopting ordinance Sec. 110.8
• How are corrections issued and cleared? Written correction notice, cleared by re-inspection. At application stage Ord. Sec. 480.3.5 requires the building official to 'issue a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and identifying any additional information required'. At inspection stage corrections are recorded against the permit and carried forward until cleared — the live Daily Route Sheet shows dated, initialled correction lists per permit (e.g. entries dated 7.27.2026 and 8.5.2026 on one permit) with the standing instruction 'finish all items on all correction notices before scheduling inspections'. Plan-review corrections are seen and answered on the portal 78% · County Daily Inspection Route Sheet (27 Aug 2026) + adopting ordinance Sec. 480.3.5