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Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit in San Antonio, Texas

Per Information Bulletin 153 (jointly issued by DSD and CPS Energy), a solar PV installation requires a separate electrical permit application (the PV application is a subtype of the Electrical Permit in the BuildSA Customer Portal) in addition to CPS Energy's Distributed Energy Resource (DER)/interconnection process. The master electrician must be the applicant. Projects on a designated historic resource or in a historic district must first meet with the Historic Design and Review Commission.

Reviewed 2026-09-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Must be applied for by a State-licensed master electrician registered with the City of San Antonio (the PV application is a subtype of the Electrical Permit) Contractor
  • Separate CPS Energy registration/preconstruction submittal (One-Line Diagram, Site Layout/Plan and photos, equipment specifications, DER application) required in parallel
  • Site plan showing existing/proposed structures and setbacks
  • Roof plan showing array layout, roof covering/overlays, rafter/beam sizes and spacing, roof slope, and firefighter-access clearances per IFC Section 1205.2/1205.3 (solar arrays may not exceed 150 feet on any one side)
  • Electrical diagrams: rapid-shutdown equipment, conduits/combiner boxes, inverters/disconnects, batteries (if any), modules/panels, mounting system
  • Engineered plans required for commercial projects; for residential, an engineer is required only if the array involves a patio cover, carport, or a roof pitch under 4:12 (at the Plan Reviewer's request)
  • Meeting with the Historic Design and Review Commission before submittal, if the property is a designated historic resource or in a historic district

Required documents

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Fee schedule

PV permit fee
Billed as an Electrical Permit subtype; no PV-specific fee line was found in the Development Fee Schedule -- see Electrical Permit fees

Review timeline

Plan reviewSan Antonio’s published plan-review target
3–3 business days

How long did your Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit permit actually take in San Antonio?

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Inspection process

  1. 1

    DSD electrical inspection of the completed PV installation (required before CPS Energy will schedule its Commissioning Test and meter installation)

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

Tips

  • Submit the DSD application and the CPS Energy registration/preconstruction documents simultaneously -- CPS Energy will only schedule a Commissioning Test after DSD releases the permit.
  • Systems 25 kW AC or larger are forwarded to CPS Energy's DER Engineering Team for additional review.
  • If seeking a CPS Energy rebate, equipment installation must be completed within 120 days of CPS Energy's Construction Letter.

Frequently asked questions

San Antonio requires a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit for: Must be applied for by a State-licensed master electrician registered with the City of San Antonio (the PV application is a subtype of the Electrical Permit); Separate CPS Energy registration/preconstruction submittal (One-Line Diagram, Site Layout/Plan and photos, equipment specifications, DER application) required in parallel; Site plan showing existing/proposed structures and setbacks; Roof plan showing array layout, roof covering/overlays, rafter/beam sizes and spacing, roof slope, and firefighter-access clearances per IFC Section 1205.2/1205.3 (solar arrays may not exceed 150 feet on any one side); Electrical diagrams: rapid-shutdown equipment, conduits/combiner boxes, inverters/disconnects, batteries (if any), modules/panels, mounting system; Engineered plans required for commercial projects; for residential, an engineer is required only if the array involves a patio cover, carport, or a roof pitch under 4:12 (at the Plan Reviewer's request); Meeting with the Historic Design and Review Commission before submittal, if the property is a designated historic resource or in a historic district. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Development Services Department (DSD), City of San Antonio at 210-207-1111 before starting work.

In San Antonio, the published PV permit fee is: Billed as an Electrical Permit subtype; no PV-specific fee line was found in the Development Fee Schedule -- see Electrical Permit fees. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

San Antonio's published plan-review target for a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit is 3–3 business days.

You'll need: IB 153 - Requirements for Solar Photovoltaic Systems (PV) (Commercial/Residential); CPS Energy online registration form and DER application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

San Antonio requires 1 inspection(s) for a solar photovoltaic (pv) permit, in order: DSD electrical inspection of the completed PV installation (required before CPS Energy will schedule its Commissioning Test and meter installation). Schedule each through Development Services Department (DSD), City of San Antonio (210-207-1111).

Apply through Development Services Department (DSD), City of San Antonio at Cliff Morton Development and Business Services Center (One Stop), 1901 S. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78204. Phone: 210-207-1111. Office hours: Monday - Friday: 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.. Official information: https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/DSD.

San Antonio, Texas has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC) - International Code Council (ICC); adopted by San Antonio City Council effective January 30, 2025; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) - ICC; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) - ICC; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) - ICC; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) - ICC; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) - ICC; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) - ICC; 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) - ICC; 2024 National Electrical Code (NEC) - NFPA 70, adopted alongside the 2024 ICC code cycle; 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) - ICC; excluded from the 2024 adoption cycle and still in effect (per DSD Codes & Ordinances page as of the 2024 update); 2024 San Antonio Property Maintenance Code (SAPMC) - City of San Antonio local code. Local amendments apply — see the San Antonio overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-06.

Applications & forms

Checklists & handouts

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

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Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit in other cities

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