Do I Need a Permit to Install Solar Panels in Colorado?
Solar panel permit requirements. Permits, inspections, utility interconnection, and available incentives.
Yes — both a building and electrical permit are required.
Colorado-specific rules
Colorado's statewide energy floor, HB22-1362 (2022), requires any jurisdiction that adopts or updates a building code between July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2026 to adopt the state's Solar Ready provisions on top of a 2021 IECC floor. Building-code editions and permit specifics otherwise vary by city (Colorado is home-rule) — confirm with your jurisdiction.
Sources: Colorado HB22-1362 (2022) — statewide energy code floor (Solar Ready), Colorado DPO - Electrical and Plumbing Permits (the residual state inspection programme, the two separate lists of jurisdictions the state does NOT inspect, the permit types sold by trade, and the scheduling and attendance policies)
Two Permits Required
Solar installations require a building permit (for structural mounting on your roof or ground) and an electrical permit (for wiring from panels to inverter to panel). Most solar installers handle the entire permitting process as part of their service.
Roof Access Requirements
Fire code requires 3-foot access pathways on the roof for firefighter access. Panels cannot cover the entire roof — specific setbacks from ridges, valleys, and edges are required. Your installer will design the layout to comply.
Utility Interconnection
Before your system can be energized and connected to the grid, you need an interconnection agreement with your local utility. This is separate from the city permit. Your installer typically handles this, but it can add 2-4 weeks to the timeline.
Incentives (Read This Carefully — They Change Often)
Solar incentives shift frequently and vary by state and utility, so don't rely on older guides. State tax credits and the federal residential Clean Energy Credit (the ITC, Section 25D) have changed eligibility windows in recent years, and some may no longer apply to new installations. Your utility may offer net-billing terms or limited rebates. Because programs change often, confirm exactly what is available the week you sign — and never let an installer's quote assume a credit that no longer exists.
Yes, permits are required but your solar installer handles them. Budget 5-14 days for permit review plus 2-4 weeks for utility interconnection.
Permit fees by city in Colorado
Verified from each city’s published fee schedule. Where a city has no separate fee listed for this project, open the city page for the current requirements and amount.
125 rows
| Permit fee | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Akron | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Alamosa | $24Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Arvada | $54.00 plus Use TaxVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Aspen | Computed via the City's Building Permit Fee Estimator (Excel) referencing the current Municipal Code Fee Ordinance (Title 2)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Ault | Current State of Colorado Electrical Board fee schedule amount, plus 15% local surchargeVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Aurora | $190.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Avon | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Basalt | Set by the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) Electrical Board fee schedule, not a Town of Basalt feeVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Bennett | Set by State (Colorado State Electrical Board statewide fee schedule)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Berthoud | $100.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Blue River | $135.00Verified | Electrical Permit (Type C Permit) → |
| Boulder | $36.70Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Bow Mar | Set by the Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA), not the Town of Bow MarVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Breckenridge | $120.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Brighton | $23.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the 2026 Community Development Fee ScheduleVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Broomfield | $23.50Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Burlington | Set by the Colorado State Electrical Board fee schedule (DORA), not the City of BurlingtonVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Calhan | Set by the Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA), not the Town of CalhanVerified | Electrical Permit (State-Administered) → |
| Cañon City | Set by the State of Colorado (DORA), not the CityVerified | Electrical Permit (State of Colorado Program) → |
| Castle Pines | As outlined by Colorado state statute (CRS 12-23-117(3))Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Castle Rock | $23.50 minimum, scaling per the standard valuation tableVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Centennial | $100.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Center | Set by the Colorado DORA/DPO Electrical Board, not the Town of CenterVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Cheyenne Wells | $25.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| City of Fountain | $80.00 for the first $2,000 plus $8.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereofVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family/Duplex Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family/Duplex Construction) → |
| Colorado Springs | $50.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Columbine Valley | See city page for the current Electrical Permit (Non-Structural Building Permit / Building Permit with Plan Review) fee | Electrical Permit (Non-Structural Building Permit / Building Permit with Plan Review) → |
| Commerce City | $30.41Verified | Electrical Permit (RELEC / CELEC) → |
| Conejos County (Unincorporated) | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Cortez | $75.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Craig | Set by DORA/DPO, not the local jurisdictionVerified | Electrical Permit (State-Administered) → |
| Crested Butte | Per the 2026 Fee Schedule's Building Permit valuation tiersVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Cripple Creek | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Dacono | $115.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Delta | ≤1,000 sq ft: $100.00; 1,001–1,500 sq ft: $140.00; 1,501–2,000 sq ft: $180.00; >2,000 sq ft: $180.00 + $8.00 per additional 100 sq ft or fraction thereofVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Denver | Assessed on the electrical work's valuation using Denver's Building Permit and Plan Review Fee Schedule (ADMIN 125/138 Table 1) — e.g. $35 for $501–$2,000 valuation, $35 for the first $2,000 plus $8/each additional $1,000 up to $25,000, scaling up through the table's brackets to $5,385 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.65/each additional $1,000 over that; quick permits carry $0 plan review fee (Table 2 valuation applies if higher than the applicant-submitted valuation)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Dillon | $146.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Durango | $24.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Residence or Duplex) | Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Residence or Duplex) → |
| Eagle | Set by the Colorado State Electrical Board under the statewide CRS 12-23-117 fee schedule; paid directly to the State via the DPO Online Permitting SystemVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Eaton | $200.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Edgewater | $115.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Erie | $30.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Estes Park | Set by the State of Colorado Electrical Board, not the Town of Estes ParkVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Evans | $60.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Federal Heights | Set by the Colorado State Electrical Board per CRS 12-23-117(3); not collected by or set locally by the City of Federal HeightsVerified | Electrical Permit (State-Administered) → |
| Firestone | $141.20Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Florence | Set by the State of Colorado DORA Electrical Board, not the City of FlorenceVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Fort Collins | $65.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Fort Lupton | $200.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Fort Morgan | Not published on any City of Fort Morgan page, since the City does not administer this permit; set and collected entirely by DORA/State Electrical BoardVerified | Electrical Permit — REFERRED TO STATE OF COLORADO (Not Issued by the City) → |
| Frederick | $200.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Frisco | $120.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Fruita | Valuation-based per Table 2 Permit Fee Schedule (e.g., $35.00 minimum up to $500 valuation)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Garden City | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Gilcrest | Scaled at 1.15x (15% above) the current State of Colorado Electrical Fee Schedule, per CRS Article 23, Section 12-23-117Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Glenwood Springs | No chargeVerified | Electrical Permit (Issued by the State of Colorado, Not the City) → |
| Golden | Calculated per the Building Permit Fee Table valuation tiers ($25.85 minimum)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Grand Junction | Valuation-based per Table 2 Permit Fee Schedule (e.g., $50.00 minimum up to $1,200 valuation)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Greeley | $23.50 minimum ($1-$500 valuation), scaling per the City's 2024 Building Permit Fee Schedule Table 1-AVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Gypsum | Set by Code of Ordinances Sec. 15.02.050, Table 4 (electrical permit and related inspection fees)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Haxtun | $2,000.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Holyoke | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Hudson | $146Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Johnstown | $77.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Julesburg | Set by the Board of Trustees; not separately published onlineVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Keenesburg | $129.95Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Kersey | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| La Junta | Not published on the City's site; set and collected by the State of Colorado DPO Electrical BoardVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| La Salle | $200.00 for valuations to $2,000; $300.00 plus $15.00 per $1,000 aboveVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Lafayette | $30.00 minimum, scaling per valuation tiersVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Lakewood | Assessed on the electrical work's valuation (labor + materials) using Lakewood's standard Building Permit Fee table — $26.00 minimum (valuation $1.00-$500.00) scaling up to $5,570.15 for the first $1,000,000.00 plus $3.45 per additional $1,000.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Lamar | Set by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), State Electrical Board — not published in the City of Lamar's fee scheduleVerified | Electrical Permit (State-Administered) → |
| Larkspur | $100Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Littleton | $25.85 minimum, scaling per valuation tiersVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Lochbuie | Electrical Permit fees as charged by the State of Colorado Electrical Board, plus 15%Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Lone Tree | $23.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the 2026 Building Fees scheduleVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Longmont | $40.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Louisville | $28.00 minimum, scaling per valuation tiersVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Loveland | Based on the current ICC Building Valuation Data applied to the stated project valuation on the Electrical Fast Track applicationVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Lyons | $150Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Mead | Calculated according to the most current State of Colorado Electrical Board fee schedule (+/-15%)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Milliken | According to State RegulationsVerified | Electrical Permit (Electrical Service Change) → |
| Montrose | $1.00-$500.00: $23.50 | $501.00-$2,000.00: $23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 per additional $100 or fraction, to and including $2,000 | $2,001.00-$25,000.00: $69.25 for the first $2,000 plus $14.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction, to and including $25,000 | $25,001.00-$50,000.00: $391.75 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 per additional $1,000 or fraction, to and including $50,000 | $50,001.00-$100,000.00: $643.75 for the first $50,000 plus $7.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction, to and including $100,000 | $100,001.00-$500,000.00: $993.75 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 per additional $1,000 or fraction, to and including $500,000 | $500,001.00-$1,000,000.00: $3,233.75 for the first $500,000 plus $4.75 per additional $1,000 or fraction, to and including $1,000,000 | $1,000,000.00 and up: $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.65 per additional $1,000 or fractionVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Morrison | Per the adopted codeVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Mount Crested Butte | $23.50Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Mountain View | $40.00 for total valuation $1.00-$500.00; $40.00 for the first $500.00 plus $2.00 per additional $100.00 (or fraction) from $501.00-$2,000.00; $70.00 for the first $2,000.00 plus $14.00 per additional $1,000.00 (or fraction) from $2,001.00-$25,000.00; $391.25 for the first $25,000.00 plus $10.10 per additional $1,000.00 (or fraction) from $25,001.00-$50,000.00; $643.75 for the first $50,000.00 plus $7.00 per additional $1,000.00 (or fraction) from $50,001.00-$100,000.00; $993.75 for the first $100,000.00 plus $5.60 per additional $1,000.00 (or fraction) from $100,001.00-$500,000.00; continuing per the same table above $500,000.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Mountain Village | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Nederland | Determined per-project by Town/SAFEbuilt staff at applicationVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Northglenn | $115Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Nunn | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Palisade | $10.00 flat feeVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) — Town Planning Clearance + Mesa County Building Permit | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) — Town Planning Clearance + Mesa County Building Permit → |
| Parker | $88.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Pierce | No separate published electrical-specific line item; billed under the same 'UBC fee schedule + $30 or 30% (greater)' structure via the 'SAFEbuilt $' / 'Town $' lines on the Building Permit ApplicationVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Platteville | No distinct electrical-permit dollar figure is separately published — verified-negative, confirmed 2026-07-23Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Poncha Springs | $135.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Pueblo | $55.13Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Rifle | Set by the State of Colorado (DORA State Electrical Board), not the City of RifleVerified | Electrical Permit (Issued by the State of Colorado, Not the City) → |
| Saguache | $20.00Verifiedvia Building Permit | Building Permit → |
| Salida | $135.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Sedgwick | $30.00Verifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Alteration, Roof/Siding, Foundation, Relocation) | Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Alteration, Roof/Siding, Foundation, Relocation) → |
| Severance | Valuation-based, determined by SAFEbuilt ColoradoVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Silver Cliff | See city page for the current Electrical Permit (State of Colorado) fee | Electrical Permit (State of Colorado) → |
| Silverthorne | Based on total building area (sq ft) plus number of dwelling unitsVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Springfield | Not applicable — see Building Permit Application Fee ($50.00) and Building Cost Fee ($1.00/$1,000, max $2,000.00)Verified | Electrical Permit (State-Administered) → |
| Steamboat Springs | $100.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Sterling | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Superior | $46.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Telluride | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Thornton | $30.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Timnath | Not published onlineVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Town of Carbondale | See city page for the current Electrical Permit (State-Issued) fee | Electrical Permit (State-Issued) → |
| Trinidad | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Unincorporated Pueblo County | $55.13Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Unincorporated Teller County | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Unincorporated Washington County | $100.00 flat, for all buildings except Use by Special Review (commercial-use) buildingsVerifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Remodel, Accessory Structures) | Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Remodel, Accessory Structures) → |
| Vail | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Victor | $115.00Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Walsh | $15.00Verifiedvia Building Permit (Structures, Carports, Fences, and Other Construction) | Building Permit (Structures, Carports, Fences, and Other Construction) → |
| Wellington | See city page for the current Electrical Permit fee | Electrical Permit → |
| Westcliffe | Set by the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA/DPO) statewide fee schedule — not a Town of Westcliffe feeVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Westminster | An additional 15% of the Building Permit Fee, plus 15% of the Plan Review FeeVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Wheat Ridge | $170Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Windsor | Equal to SAFEbuilt's own valuation-based fee (not separately published for standalone electrical work)Verified | Electrical Permit → |
| Winter Park | Set by the Colorado State Electrical Board (Division of Professions and Occupations), not the TownVerified | Electrical Permit → |
| Yuma | Set by the Colorado State Electrical Board fee schedule (not a City of Yuma fee)Verified | Electrical Permit → |