Permit guide

Solar Panel Permits in Arizona: Rules by City

Solar permits in Arizona are not one rule. Each city or county decides for itself, so the answer for a Mesa roof can differ from the answer for a Tucson or Flagstaff roof. This page gives the core rule, shows where to check with the city, and points you to the right official page.

Updated Oct 22, 2026

Solar, city by city

Solar: permit rule by city
City	Permit?	Checked
Phoenix metroCovered by our 602 directories
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Avondale, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Avondale · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Avondale for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Buckeye, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Buckeye · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Buckeye for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Chandler, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Chandler · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Chandler for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Gilbert, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source Town of Gilbert · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Gilbert for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Glendale, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Glendale · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Glendale for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Goodyear, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Goodyear · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Goodyear for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Maricopa, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Maricopa · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Maricopa for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Depends	Oct 21, 2026
Mesa, solar Solar systems under 10,000 square feet that are certified and installed by a licensed Arizona contractor need no construction permit, but new electric meters or circuits do require one. What the city's page says Are there rules for solar power systems? Yes, solar power systems under 10,000 square feet that are certified by a recognized agency and installed by a licensed Arizona contractor no not need a construction permit. However, new electric meters or circuits will require a permit. Source City of Mesa · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Mesa for this job The license to ask for Mesa's own page Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Peoria, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Peoria · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Peoria for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Phoenix, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Phoenix · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Phoenix for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Queen Creek, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source Town of Queen Creek · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Queen Creek for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
San Tan Valley, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source Pinal County · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in San Tan Valley for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Scottsdale, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Scottsdale · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Scottsdale for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Surprise, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Surprise · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Surprise for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Tempe, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Tempe · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Tempe for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
Southern ArizonaThe hire-it-yourself kit
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Tucson, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Tucson · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Tucson for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
Northern ArizonaThe hire-it-yourself kit
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Flagstaff, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Flagstaff · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Flagstaff for this job The license to ask for Flagstaff's own page Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Prescott, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Prescott · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Prescott for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
Western ArizonaThe hire-it-yourself kit
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Lake Havasu City, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Lake Havasu City · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Lake Havasu City for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.
	Check with the city	Oct 21, 2026
Yuma, solar We could not confirm this city's rule from its own pages. Check with the city before the work starts. Source City of Yuma · checked Oct 21, 2026 No directory of ours in Yuma for this job The license to ask for Ask who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the quote.

Permit neededDependsNo permitCheck with the city1 of 20 rows confirmed from the city's own pages

Arizona Sets Solar Permits City by City

There is no single statewide solar permit in Arizona. State law does set a floor for what a city must ask for on a utility-connected photovoltaic system: plans showing the system location, roof plan and elevation, panel mounting details, electrical diagrams, and inverter listings.^[2] A professional-engineer stamp may not be required unless the city decides it is necessary and explains why in writing.^[2]

Beyond that floor, the permit rule, the fee and the review path belong to the city. Rules checked October 2026.

Rooftop solar panels on a desert-area home — Rooftop solar panels on a single-family home

Rule by City

For the rest, the city has the final word.

City	Solar panel installation	Condition
Mesa	Depends	Certified systems under 10,000 square feet installed by a licensed Arizona contractor need no construction permit. New electric meters or circuits do need one.^[1]
Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Glendale, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye, Queen Creek, Maricopa, San Tan Valley, Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma, Prescott, Lake Havasu City	Check with the city	No confirmed rule

Mesa

Mesa's own FAQ says solar power systems under 10,000 square feet, certified by a recognized agency and installed by a licensed Arizona contractor, do not need a construction permit.^[1] The same answer says new electric meters or circuits will require a permit.^[1]

Check the city's fee schedule for the fee. Read the full answer on Mesa's residential construction FAQ, or see Mesa's permit page on this site.

Cities to confirm with the city

For every other city, check with the city before you sign a contract.

Start with the city's permit page: Phoenix, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Goodyear, Queen Creek, Maricopa, San Tan Valley, Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma, Prescott and Lake Havasu City.

Gilbert, Tempe, Surprise, Avondale and Buckeye are not covered here, so call the building department directly. City pages are also gathered at Arizona building permit rules by city and job.

Homes Outside City Limits

If you live in an unincorporated area, the county is your permitting authority, not the nearest city. Maricopa County accepts SolarAPP+ approved designs for residential photovoltaic projects in unincorporated areas. The program applies to permitted residential rooftop systems on legal, permitted, code-compliant structures.^[4]

State law also lets counties use qualified online permitting platforms to verify some code-compliance requirements.^[3]

Coconino County lists an application, site plan, one-line electrical diagram, roof plan, roof-mounting detail, equipment specifications, electrical-panel tie-in detail and structural review of the roof framing.^[5] In the Town of Camp Verde, applicants submit a Fire–Solar Photovoltaic Permit Application along with the applicable permitting application.^[6]

Confirm which body covers your address before you ask for a quote.

Decide

Who issues your solar permit

Is your home inside city limits?

If Yes
then: Follow your city's permit rules
If No, unincorporated
then: Follow your county's rules

Steps to Take

Find your city in the table and read the rule and condition.
Open the city's own permit page and read the solar or electrical section.
Call or message the building department to confirm what applies to your address.
Ask your installer in writing who pulls the permit, schedules inspections and handles corrections.

Ask for copies of approved plans, permits and inspection sign-offs for your records.

Check the Installer's License

Hire only a licensed contractor. You can verify a contractor's license class and standing with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors license search, and our guide to checking a license before you hire walks through it.

Mesa's exemption itself depends on the work being installed by a licensed Arizona contractor.^[1] For the wider picture, see solar panels in Arizona and Arizona contractor license classes.

Sources

City of Mesa. "Mesa: solar panel installation permit." https://www.mesaaz.gov/Business-Development/Development-Services/Building-Permit-Plan-Review/Residential-Construction/Residential-Construction-FAQ. Accessed October 21, 2026.
Arizona State Legislature. "9-468 - Solar construction permits; standards; definition." https://www.azleg.gov/ars/9/00468.htm. Accessed October 21, 2026.
Arizona State Legislature. "11-323 - Solar construction permits; standards; definition." https://www.azleg.gov/ars/11/00323.htm. Accessed October 21, 2026.
Maricopa County Planning and Development. "Residential Solar Permits." https://www.maricopa.gov/6714/Residential-Solar-Permits. Accessed October 21, 2026.
Coconino County, Arizona. "Solar and Wind Permitting FAQs." https://www.coconino.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1511/Solar-and-Wind-Permitting-FAQs?bidId=. Accessed October 21, 2026.
Town of Camp Verde, Arizona. "Permitting & FAQ's." https://www.campverde.az.gov/department/development_services/permitting.php. Accessed October 21, 2026.