Solar PV Permit in Lakewood, Colorado
Required for installation of rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) or thermal systems on residential and commercial properties in Lakewood. Applied for in eTRAKiT under Permit Type 'Alternative Energy' (New Residential / New Commercial / Remove and Reset PV / Remove and Reset Thermal / Wind or Other).
Verified 2026-07-01 · Source
When you need this permit
- eTRAKiT Permit Type 'Alternative Energy' with subtypes: New Commercial (PV or thermal system on commercial building), New Residential (PV or thermal system on residential building), Remove and Reset PV (for reroof/roof alteration or system repair), Remove and Reset Thermal, Wind or Other (wind tower, wind mill, or other alternative energy system)
- Electrical permit and inspection required for grid interconnection per the 2023 NEC (Article 690 solar-specific provisions)
- Structural adequacy of the roof for panel/racking loads must be demonstrated given Lakewood's 30 psf minimum roof snow/live load design criteria
- All solar contractors must be registered with the City of Lakewood via eTRAKiT
- Removing and resetting an existing PV system for a reroof or roof alteration uses the distinct 'Remove and Reset PV' subtype rather than a new-install subtype
Required documents
- Req
Alternative Energy Permit Application (via eTRAKiT)
Select Permit Type 'Alternative Energy' and the correct subtype (New Residential / New Commercial / Remove and Reset PV or Thermal / Wind or Other)
- Req
Equipment Specifications
Manufacturer spec sheets for panels, inverter, racking, and battery storage if applicable
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solar PV / Alternative Energy Permit Fee — valuation-based (standard Building Permit Fee table) | Assessed on the solar installation's valuation (labor + materials for panels, racking, inverter, and grid-interconnection electrical work) 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 $1,000.00 | VERIFIED — unlike Denver's published flat $50 PV fee, Lakewood has no Alternative-Energy-specific line in its Flat Fee Permits table, so Solar PV/thermal falls under the fee schedule's own governing rule: 'With the exception of the fees listed in the FLAT FEE PERMITS table, all building permit fees are based on total valuation including labor and materials.' Confirmed by re-fetching the full 2-page fee schedule PDF (Playwright browser-fetch past the Akamai/edgesuite WAF, then pdftotext -layout) and reading it in full — Alternative Energy/Solar is absent from the Flat Fee list (fence, water heater, furnace, A/C, evaporative cooler, siding, reroof, temp trailer, demolition, move-and-set) and absent from any separate solar fee table. A companion Electrical permit and inspection is also required for grid interconnection per 2023 NEC Article 690, separately fee-bearing on the same valuation-based schedule. |
Review timeline
~0–0 business days
Typical estimate — confirm current times with the Lakewood building department
Inspection process
- 1
Rough Electrical
Conduit runs, wire sizing, disconnect placement before cover
- 2
Final — Structural / Electrical
Panel mounting, racking attachment, roof penetration sealing, and all electrical connections verified
Tips
- Lakewood's Alternative Energy permit type explicitly separates 'New' installs from 'Remove and Reset' (for reroofs/repairs) — apply for the correct subtype in eTRAKiT to avoid delays.
- Structural calculations must account for Lakewood's 30 psf minimum roof snow/live load and Seismic Design Category B (residential) per the City's Codes and Loads handout.
- Unlike Denver, which publishes a flat $50 solar PV fee, Lakewood has no Alternative-Energy line in its Flat Fee Permits table — solar/thermal is billed on the standard valuation-based Building Permit Fee schedule instead, plus a separate Electrical permit for grid interconnection.
- No Lakewood-specific SolarAPP+ (instant online solar permitting) reference was found on the City's own Building and Construction Permits page as of this verification — do not assume SolarAPP+ applies here without confirming directly with the Permit Counter (303-987-7500).
Frequently asked questions
- What permit type covers rooftop solar in Lakewood?
- Solar PV and solar thermal installations are applied for under the 'Alternative Energy' permit type in eTRAKiT, with New Residential and New Commercial subtypes for new installs, and separate Remove and Reset subtypes for reinstalling existing systems during a reroof or repair.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-01.
- City of Lakewood — Public Works Department, Permit Counter (Building Division) — official building department
- City of Lakewood eTRAKiT Permit Types info sheet (rev. 2022-01-06) — Solar / Alternative Energy section
- City of Lakewood Building Permit & Inspection Fee Schedule (effective Jan 1, 2021, current published version)
- City of Lakewood Codes and Loads handout — design load criteria for structural review
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 Lakewood building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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