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Solar PV Permit — City of Fountain, Colorado · Requirements sheet
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source: https://www.pprbd.org/File/ByAlias/AlternativeEnergyResidential
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Solar PV Permit in City of Fountain, Colorado
Required for installation of rooftop or ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) and solar-thermal systems within Fountain city limits. As with all building permits in Fountain, the actual permit is issued by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) — not the City — under PPRBD's Alternative Energy Plan Requirements, which require both a building permit and an electrical permit for PV systems (plus a mechanical/plumbing permit for solar-thermal systems altering interior piping). PPRBD does not publish a solar-specific flat fee; systems are billed at standard Table A valuation-based building-permit rates plus an electrical trade fee. Colorado's statewide solar permit fee cap (C.R.S. § 24-48.5-113, enacted via HB21-1284) limits any local solar permit fee to $500 for a residential system and $1,000 for a commercial system, which applies as a ceiling on whatever PPRBD's valuation-based calculation would otherwise produce.
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
When you need this permit
- Written utility approval for the system (including disconnect locations); site plan with north arrow, equipment locations, raceway routing, module layout, and access pathways
- Roof-mount PV: configurator printout/charts or Colorado-licensed design professional letter confirming design criteria — snow load Pf=30 psf/Pg=43 psf below 7,000 ft (Pf=40/Pg=57 above 7,000 ft), wind load 130 mph Vult Exposure C; roof connection spacing and fastener specifications
- Ground-mount PV: only arrays exceeding 7 feet in height require a building permit (an electrical permit is still required regardless of height); site plan showing tallest point of array; foundation depth/diameter/spacing per a Colorado-licensed design professional
- Energy Storage Systems (ESS) must comply with NEC 706.15 and include a DC disconnect between ESS output and inverter, plus a floor plan showing ESS location
- Solar-thermal systems: mechanical/plumbing submittal showing floor layout, isometric of the system, backflow devices, IPC 504.5 relief valve approval, and IRC combination pressure/temperature relief valves on water heaters and storage tanks
- Fountain City of Fountain zoning review is not separately called out for solar in the City's published Development Review Fee Schedule (unlike new-construction Plot Plans); confirm with the City Planning Department, (719) 322-2000, whether a rooftop retrofit installation on an existing structure requires a City zoning sign-off before PPRBD will issue the permit
- For solar removed/reinstalled during a reroof: both a building permit and electrical permit are required (plus mechanical/plumbing if solar-thermal piping is altered), in addition to the roofing permit
Required documents
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Fee schedule
Building Permit Fee — valuation-based (Table A), capped by Colorado state lawPPRBD does not publish a separate flat solar fee for the underlying valuation-based calculation; PV/solar-thermal systems are billed as standard Table A building permits plus a Table B/B.1 electrical trade attachment fee or standalone Table C electrical fee, subject to Colorado's statewide statutory cap.
Varies by system valuation under PPRBD's Table A schedule, but any local solar permit fee (building + electrical combined) is capped at $500 residential / $1,000 commercial under C.R.S. § 24-48.5-113 (HB21-1284)
Electrical Trade Attachment Fee (Table B.1) — residentialPPRBD Appendix B, Table B.1, if the electrical permit is attached to the building permit
$50.00
Plan Examination FeePPRBD Appendix B, Table E item G
28% of the Building Permit Fee
Review timeline
Plan review
Not published — contact the department
Inspection process
- 1
Rough Electrical
Conduit runs, wire sizing, disconnect placement before cover
- 2
Final — Structural / Racking and Electrical
Panel mounting, racking attachment, roof penetration sealing, and all electrical connections verified
See the full City of Fountain inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →
Tips
- PPRBD requires BOTH a building permit and an electrical permit for rooftop PV — budget for both fee lines, not just one, though the combined total is capped by Colorado's statewide solar fee cap.
- Ground-mount arrays 7 feet tall or less skip the building permit requirement but still need the electrical permit.
- Fountain does not operate its own building department — do not contact City Hall expecting to pull the solar permit itself; it is issued and inspected exclusively by PPRBD, though the City's own zoning prerequisites (as used for other construction permits in Fountain) may still apply to new structures supporting a ground-mount array.
- Whatever PPRBD's valuation-based Table A calculation produces, it cannot legally exceed Colorado's statewide solar permit fee cap: $500 residential / $1,000 commercial (C.R.S. § 24-48.5-113, HB21-1284).
Frequently asked questions
City of Fountain requires a solar pv permit for: Written utility approval for the system (including disconnect locations); site plan with north arrow, equipment locations, raceway routing, module layout, and access pathways; Roof-mount PV: configurator printout/charts or Colorado-licensed design professional letter confirming design criteria — snow load Pf=30 psf/Pg=43 psf below 7,000 ft (Pf=40/Pg=57 above 7,000 ft), wind load 130 mph Vult Exposure C; roof connection spacing and fastener specifications; Ground-mount PV: only arrays exceeding 7 feet in height require a building permit (an electrical permit is still required regardless of height); site plan showing tallest point of array; foundation depth/diameter/spacing per a Colorado-licensed design professional; Energy Storage Systems (ESS) must comply with NEC 706.15 and include a DC disconnect between ESS output and inverter, plus a floor plan showing ESS location; Solar-thermal systems: mechanical/plumbing submittal showing floor layout, isometric of the system, backflow devices, IPC 504.5 relief valve approval, and IRC combination pressure/temperature relief valves on water heaters and storage tanks; Fountain City of Fountain zoning review is not separately called out for solar in the City's published Development Review Fee Schedule (unlike new-construction Plot Plans); confirm with the City Planning Department, (719) 322-2000, whether a rooftop retrofit installation on an existing structure requires a City zoning sign-off before PPRBD will issue the permit; For solar removed/reinstalled during a reroof: both a building permit and electrical permit are required (plus mechanical/plumbing if solar-thermal piping is altered), in addition to the roofing permit. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) — issues building permits and performs inspections; City of Fountain Planning & Zoning Department — handles zoning/site-plan prerequisites and City-specific permits (signs, short term rental, chickens) at PPRBD (719) 327-2880; City of Fountain Planning Department (719) 322-2000 before starting work.
PPRBD does not publish a flat solar fee — solar PV is billed as a standard valuation-based building permit (Table A) plus an electrical trade fee (Table B.1, $50 residential, if attached), and a 28% plan-examination surcharge. The combined local fee is capped by Colorado state law at $500 for a residential system and $1,000 for a commercial system (C.R.S. § 24-48.5-113).
City of Fountain does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) — issues building permits and performs inspections; City of Fountain Planning & Zoning Department — handles zoning/site-plan prerequisites and City-specific permits (signs, short term rental, chickens) at PPRBD (719) 327-2880; City of Fountain Planning Department (719) 322-2000 for current turnaround.
You'll need: Solar / Electrical Permit Application (PPRBD web account); Alternative Energy Plan Requirements (PV and Solar-Thermal); Utility Approval Letter. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.
City of Fountain requires 2 inspection(s) for a solar pv permit, in order: Rough Electrical, Final — Structural / Racking and Electrical. Schedule each through Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) — issues building permits and performs inspections; City of Fountain Planning & Zoning Department — handles zoning/site-plan prerequisites and City-specific permits (signs, short term rental, chickens) (PPRBD (719) 327-2880; City of Fountain Planning Department (719) 322-2000).
Apply through Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) — issues building permits and performs inspections; City of Fountain Planning & Zoning Department — handles zoning/site-plan prerequisites and City-specific permits (signs, short term rental, chickens) at Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, 2880 International Cr., Colorado Springs, CO 80910; City of Fountain Planning Department, 116 South Main Street, Fountain, CO 80817. Phone: PPRBD (719) 327-2880; City of Fountain Planning Department (719) 322-2000, email: Not published on either department's site as of 2026-07-19; use the phone contacts above or each department's online portal.. Office hours: City of Fountain Planning Department: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday, per the department's own webpage. PPRBD office hours not separately verified on pprbd.org as of 2026-07-19.. Official information: https://www.pprbd.org/ (building permits); https://fountain.colorado.gov/business/planning-department (zoning/City permits).
City of Fountain, Colorado has adopted: Fountain does NOT operate its own building department. Building permitting, plan review, and inspections for the entire City of Fountain are performed by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) — a multi-jurisdictional regional authority created by a 1966 Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) covering unincorporated El Paso County, Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, Woodland Park, Green Mountain Falls, Monument, Palmer Lake, and Calhan — per PPRBD's own About page (pprbd.org/Home/About) and its homepage jurisdiction list.; PPRBD administers the 2023 Pikes Peak Regional Building Code (PPRBC), which adopts by reference: 2021 International Building Code (IBC), 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), 2019 ASME A17.1 (conveyances/elevators), and 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — per pprbd.org/Information/Codechanges and the PPRBC 2023 Edition document (pprbd.org/File/ByAlias/PPRBC2023Edition).; Separately, the City of Fountain adopts and enforces its own Zoning Ordinance (Fountain Municipal Code Title 17), which governs land use, setbacks, signs, short term rentals (Chapter 17.29), and animal-keeping/chickens (Chapter 17.18) — administered by the City's own Planning Department independent of PPRBD, per library.municode.com/co/fountain and the City's own permit application forms.. Local amendments apply — see the City of Fountain overview page for the full list.
PPRBD (Pikes Peak Regional Building Department) issues the actual building and electrical permits for solar PV installations in Fountain — the City of Fountain has no building department of its own. Confirm with the City's Planning Department, (719) 322-2000, whether any City zoning sign-off applies to your specific project.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-20.
Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the City of Fountain building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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