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Solar PV Permit in Durango, Colorado

Required for all solar panel installations in Durango. As of April 1, 2026, solar permits use the same new streamlined flat-fee-plus-use-tax structure as roofing. Electrical interconnection work associated with the solar installation is permitted separately by the State of Colorado Electrical Board, not the City.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

When you need this permit

  • All solar panel installations require a solar permit from the City
  • Applicants should review the solar permit checklist before submitting an application (referenced on the Do I Need a Permit? page; its contents are not summarized here — see the accompanying note)
  • May also be required to go through the Commercial Design Review process for certain projects
  • New flat-fee pricing structure effective 04/01/2026, same schedule as roofing
  • Photovoltaic (solar) electrical installation work is separately permitted and inspected by the State of Colorado Electrical Board (DORA), per the City's Do I Need a Permit? page, which lists 'photovoltaic installation' explicitly under the state-handled Electrical permit category

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Solar Permit Fee — ResidentialEffective 04/01/2026, same streamlined structure as Roofing
$125 flat + use tax
Solar Permit Fee — CommercialEffective 04/01/2026
$175 flat + use tax
Use TaxCity of Durango Building Permit Fees page, Fee Types - Use Tax: combined City sales and use tax rate is 3.5%, and half of a building project's valuation is assumed to be labor, so use tax is applied at 1.75% of the entire valuation
1.75% of project valuation

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Solar PV Permit permit actually take in Durango?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final Inspection (mounting/roof penetrations)

    Racking and roof-penetration compliance verified by the City

See the full Durango inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • The City's solar permit covers the physical mounting/roofing scope; the electrical interconnection portion of a solar project is separately permitted and inspected by the State of Colorado Electrical Board — plan for two separate permitting tracks, not one.
  • Check whether your project needs to go through the Commercial Design Review process in addition to the base solar permit before assuming the flat $125/$175 fee is the whole cost.

Frequently asked questions

Durango requires a solar pv permit for: All solar panel installations require a solar permit from the City; Applicants should review the solar permit checklist before submitting an application (referenced on the Do I Need a Permit? page; its contents are not summarized here — see the accompanying note); May also be required to go through the Commercial Design Review process for certain projects; New flat-fee pricing structure effective 04/01/2026, same schedule as roofing; Photovoltaic (solar) electrical installation work is separately permitted and inspected by the State of Colorado Electrical Board (DORA), per the City's Do I Need a Permit? page, which lists 'photovoltaic installation' explicitly under the state-handled Electrical permit category. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Durango Community Development Department, Building Division at 970-375-5000 before starting work.

In Durango, the published Solar Permit Fee — Residential is: $125 flat + use tax. Additional published fees: Solar Permit Fee — Commercial — $175 flat + use tax; Use Tax — 1.75% of project valuation. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Durango does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Durango Community Development Department, Building Division at 970-375-5000 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Solar Permit Application (OpenGov portal). Depending on your project, Durango may also ask for: Solar Permit Checklist. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Durango requires 1 inspection(s) for a solar pv permit, in order: Final Inspection (mounting/roof penetrations). Schedule each through City of Durango Community Development Department, Building Division (970-375-5000).

Apply through City of Durango Community Development Department, Building Division at 949 E 2nd Avenue, Durango, CO 81301. Phone: 970-375-5000, email: Building@DurangoCo.Gov. Office hours: Not published on the Building Division pages as of the last verification; main City Hall line 970-375-5000. General building-permit questions: Building@DurangoCo.Gov. Fee-schedule calculation questions: 970-375-4850.. Official information: https://www.durangoco.gov/311/Applying-for-a-Building-Permit.

Durango, Colorado has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC) — City of Durango Building Codes page, effective for new projects not already in a planning process prior to 01/01/2026; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC); 2024 International Fire Code (IFC); 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC); 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC); Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code (CMERSRC) — state-mandated, per City of Durango Building Codes page and Submittal Requirements page; Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (WRC) — state-mandated; City of Durango began enforcement April 1, 2026 per the Building Codes page and Do I Need a Permit? page; Transition provision: projects with full vertical construction drawings designed to the 2018 I-Codes and submitted to the Planning Division prior to January 1, 2026 may remain compliant with that older code cycle; all other new submittals must follow the 2024 I-Codes, 2023 NEC, CMERSRC, and Wildfire Resiliency Code; Code books available for review at Community Development and the City Clerk's Office; full municipal code at library.municode.com/co/durango. Local amendments apply — see the Durango overview page for the full list.

No. The City's own Do I Need a Permit? page lists photovoltaic installation under the Electrical permit category, which the State of Colorado Electrical Board handles exclusively — not the City Building Division.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-20.

Fee schedules

Department & other records

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 Durango building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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Other permits in Durango

Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Residence or Duplex)Residential Addition / Remodel PermitPlumbing / Gas Line PermitMechanical / HVAC PermitRoofing Permit (Roof Replacement)EV Charger / EVSE Permit (State of Colorado Electrical Board)Demolition PermitFence / Retaining Wall PermitCommercial Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel)Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish PermitSign PermitFire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System Permit (Durango Fire Protection District)Change of Use Application

Solar PV Permit in other cities

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