Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit in Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff requires a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit for: Photovoltaic system installation location must be indicated on construction plans, including roof plan and elevation (ARS 9-468); Photovoltaic panel mounting details must be included in installation plans (ARS 9-468); Electrical diagrams must include one-line or three-line diagrams, unless a qualified online automated permitting platform is used to verify code compliance (ARS 9-468); For DC-to-AC conversions, inverter cut sheets and listings must be included in the plans (ARS 9-468); The City may not require a professional engineer's stamp for a solar PV system unless deemed necessary, and must provide a written explanation if one is required (ARS 9-468); PV mounting-system structural design (roof/rack attachment, load path) must meet the City's Building Design Criteria: 60 psf ground snow load, 115 mph wind design speed, Seismic Design Category C — there is no separate solar-only structural standard; the general Design Criteria governs; The PV installation is permitted and fee-calculated as a standard Building Permit (roof/rack-mounted structure) plus an Electrical Permit for the wiring/interconnection scope, using the City's valuation-based fee methodology (Resolution 2017-21); no dedicated solar permit fee schedule exists; Accessory Energy Systems (including PV solar) are subject to a building permit and are further limited by Flagstaff zoning ordinances for visual, design, height, and setback requirements; Solar-Ready Zone provisions (2018 IRC Appendix T / IECC Appendix RA) apply to new construction of detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses; Any building/permit fee for solar construction must be attributable to and not exceed the actual cost of issuing the permit, with an itemized cost list available on request (ARS 9-468(B)); Apply through the Citizen Access Portal. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Flagstaff Building Safety Section (Planning & Development Services, Community Development Division) at 928-213-2000 before starting work.

The City has no separate solar permit fee schedule. A rooftop PV installation is billed as a standard Building Permit using the February 2017 ICC Building Valuation Data methodology (project valuation x 0.01 permit fee multiplier, plus a 65% plan review fee, per City Council Resolution 2017-21), plus an Electrical Permit for the wiring/interconnection scope. Per ARS 9-468(B), any solar-specific charge cannot exceed the City's actual cost of issuing the permit.

Flagstaff's published plan-review target for a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit is 10–35 business days.

You'll need: Residential or Commercial Building/Electrical Permit Application; One-Line or Three-Line Electrical Diagram; Inverter Cut Sheets and Listings. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Flagstaff requires 2 inspection(s) for a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit, in order: Rough Electrical, Final. Schedule each through City of Flagstaff Building Safety Section (Planning & Development Services, Community Development Division) (928-213-2000).

Apply through City of Flagstaff Building Safety Section (Planning & Development Services, Community Development Division) at 211 W Aspen Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. Phone: 928-213-2000, email: BuildingPermits@flagstaffaz.gov. Office hours: City Hall is open 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Commercial permit attachments too large for the portal: Commercial.BuildingPermits@flagstaffaz.gov. Inter-departmental submittals: FrontCounter@flagstaffaz.gov.. Official information: https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/494/Building-Safety.

Flagstaff, Arizona has adopted: Arizona has no mandatory statewide building code edition — cities and counties each adopt and amend their own codes (per Arizona Revised Statutes framework for municipal building regulation; no state building-code-adoption agency parallel to Montana's DLI exists). The City of Flagstaff independently administers its own Building Safety program within city limits, separate from Coconino County's building department, which handles unincorporated county areas. Source: City of Flagstaff Building Safety page (flagstaff.az.gov/494/Building-Safety) and Building Permits page.; 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted by City of Flagstaff Resolution 2019-26 and Ordinance 2019-16 on June 18, 2019, effective July 19, 2019 (the '2018 Suite of Codes'). Source: City of Flagstaff 2019 Adopted Building Codes (PDF); 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted per Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16, effective July 19, 2019; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — adopted per Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16, effective July 19, 2019; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — adopted per Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16, effective July 19, 2019; 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — adopted per Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16, effective July 19, 2019 (Arizona/Flagstaff uses the IPC, not the Uniform Plumbing Code); 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — adopted per Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16, effective July 19, 2019; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — adopted per Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16, effective July 19, 2019; 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — adopted per Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16, effective July 19, 2019; 2018 International Solar Energy Provisions (ISEP) — adopted per Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16, effective July 19, 2019; a compilation of solar energy provisions from the IBC, IRC, IECC, IMC, IPC, IFC, and ISPSC; 2017 NFPA 70 / National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted per Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16, effective July 19, 2019; ICC A117.1-2017, Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities — adopted per Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16; 1997 Uniform Housing Code, 1997 Uniform Administrative Code, and 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings (ICBO) — retained as adopted codes per Flagstaff City Code Title 4, Chapter 4-01; All codes amended locally by Flagstaff City Code Title 4, Building Regulations (Chapters 4-01 through 4-11), on file with the City Clerk. Source: Flagstaff City Code Title 4 Building Regulations amendments document (2019 Amendments to the Adopted Codes, PDF, rev. 05/14/2019); Statewide overlay: Arizona Revised Statutes Section 9-468 sets mandatory statewide standards for solar photovoltaic and solar water heating construction permits (limits on required plan documentation, prohibits requiring a PE stamp absent a written justification, and caps solar permit fees at actual cost of issuance) — binding on the City of Flagstaff as a municipality. Source: azleg.gov ARS 9-468; Arizona Revised Statutes Sections 9-835 and 9-836 set statutory residential building-permit plan-review timeframes (Administrative Completeness Review and Substantive Review stages) that the City of Flagstaff's published review timeframes implement. Source: City of Flagstaff Residential Building Permits Plan Review Process and Timeframes (PDF). Local amendments apply — see the Flagstaff overview page for the full list.

Only if the City determines an engineering stamp is necessary, in which case it must provide the permittee a written explanation of why. This is a statewide protection under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 9-468(A)(1)(e), which applies to the City of Flagstaff as a municipality.