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Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit in Unincorporated Washoe County, Nevada

Required for rooftop or ground-mounted solar PV systems on residential and commercial properties in unincorporated Washoe County. Requires both a building/solar permit for the structural and collector installation and a separate electrical permit for wiring.

Verified 2026-06-30 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Solar PV building permit for panel mounting, racking, and collector installation
  • Separate electrical permit for wiring, inverter connections, and interconnection
  • Submit via ONe NV permit portal; include roof plan, electrical single-line diagram, equipment specs, and structural analysis
  • NV Energy interconnection approval required before energizing system

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Solar Permit Issuance — base feeWCC Chapter 100, Appendix A, Table 6, item 1
$45.00
Solar collectors — up to 1,000 sq ftTable 6, item 2 — in addition to $45 base
$8.00
Solar collectors — 1,001 to 2,000 sq ftTable 6, item 2
$12.00
Solar collectors — over 2,000 sq ftTable 6, item 2
$12.00 plus $1.00 per additional 1,000 sq ft
Electrical permit for solar wiring (new SFD/residential — per sq ft)Table 8 — separate electrical permit required
$45.00 base + $0.04 per sq ft (or unit fee for alterations: $45 base + $0.03/sq ft)

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Unincorporated Washoe County building department
~5–20 business days

How long did your Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit permit actually take in Unincorporated Washoe County?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Rough Electrical

    Conduit runs, wire sizing, disconnect placement before energizing

  2. 2

    Final — Structural / Building

    Panel mounting, racking attachment, roof penetration sealing verified

  3. 3

    Final — Electrical

    Electrical connections, inverter installation, and interconnection point verified

See the full Unincorporated Washoe County inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Two separate permits are required: a solar/building permit for the collector installation and a separate electrical permit for wiring.
  • Washoe County's minimum roof snow load is 29 psf — structural calculations must account for combined panel weight and snow load.
  • NV Energy (the local utility) interconnection approval is required before the system can be energized.
  • Verify WUI zoning — in Wildland-Urban Interface areas, solar racking and penetrations must be installed per WUI requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Washoe County requires a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit for: Solar PV building permit for panel mounting, racking, and collector installation; Separate electrical permit for wiring, inverter connections, and interconnection; Submit via ONe NV permit portal; include roof plan, electrical single-line diagram, equipment specs, and structural analysis; NV Energy interconnection approval required before energizing system. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Washoe County Building Program at (775) 328-2020 before starting work.

In Unincorporated Washoe County, the published Solar Permit Issuance — base fee is: $45.00. Additional published fees: Solar collectors — up to 1,000 sq ft — $8.00; Solar collectors — 1,001 to 2,000 sq ft — $12.00; Solar collectors — over 2,000 sq ft — $12.00 plus $1.00 per additional 1,000 sq ft; Electrical permit for solar wiring (new SFD/residential — per sq ft) — $45.00 base + $0.04 per sq ft (or unit fee for alterations: $45 base + $0.03/sq ft). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit in Unincorporated Washoe County typically runs 5–20 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Washoe County Building Program at (775) 328-2020.

You'll need: Residential Building Permit Application (2023); Solar Roof Plan / Site Plan; Electrical Single-Line Diagram; Equipment Specifications. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Washoe County requires 3 inspection(s) for a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit, in order: Rough Electrical, Final — Structural / Building, Final — Electrical. Schedule each through Washoe County Building Program ((775) 328-2020).

Apply through Washoe County Building Program at 1001 E. Ninth Street, Building A, Reno, NV 89512. Phone: (775) 328-2020, email: building@washoecounty.gov. Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Official information: https://www.washoecounty.gov/building/.

Unincorporated Washoe County, Nevada has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), Chapters 1–35 — effective July 1, 2025 (compliance mandatory January 1, 2026); adopted per Washoe County Code Chapter 100 with 2024 Northern Nevada Amendments; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapters 1–44 — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — effective July 1, 2025; Nevada statewide energy floor per NRS 701.220 (eff. 2024-08-18) also applies; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), Chapters 1–8 — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), Chapters 1–15 — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 NFPA 54 and NFPA 58 — effective July 1, 2025; 2024 Northern Nevada Amendments by the Northern Nevada Chapter of the International Code Council (NNICC) — incorporated by reference. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Washoe County overview page for the full list.

Two permits are required: (1) a solar/building permit (Table 6 fees: $45 base + $8 for collectors up to 1,000 sq ft) for the structural mounting, and (2) a separate electrical permit (Table 8 fees) for the wiring and inverter. Both must be obtained before installation begins.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.

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

Other permits in Unincorporated Washoe County

Residential Building Permit (New Construction)Residential Addition / Remodel PermitElectrical PermitPlumbing PermitMechanical / HVAC PermitRe-Roof / Roofing PermitAccessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) PermitDemolition PermitCommercial Tenant Improvement PermitSwimming Pool / Spa PermitBlock / Screen Wall / Fence PermitEV Charger (EVSE) PermitSign PermitFire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm System Permit (TMFPD)Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Use

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit in other cities

Boulder City, NevadaCarlin, NevadaCarson City, NevadaDouglas County, NevadaElko, NevadaEly, NevadaFallon, NevadaFernley, Nevada

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