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Solar Permit in El Paso, Texas

Solar installations (solar panels, solar shingles, and solar heating systems) require building, electrical, and/or plumbing permits, and are also subject to the City's Solar Ready provisions under the Energy Conservation Code and its own locally authored solar heating/cooling standard.

Reviewed 2026-09-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Solar heating, cooling, and hot water systems must meet the City's locally adopted 'Recommended Requirements to Code Officials for Solar Heating, Cooling and Hot Water Systems' (Ch. 18.32).
  • New construction is subject to Solar Ready provisions under the adopted 2021 IECC: Appendix CB (Solar Ready Zone, commercial) and Appendix RB (Solar Ready Provisions for detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses) (Ch. 18.70).

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Solar Permit permit actually take in El Paso?

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Inspection process

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

    Frequently asked questions

    El Paso requires a solar permit for: Solar heating, cooling, and hot water systems must meet the City's locally adopted 'Recommended Requirements to Code Officials for Solar Heating, Cooling and Hot Water Systems' (Ch. 18.32).; New construction is subject to Solar Ready provisions under the adopted 2021 IECC: Appendix CB (Solar Ready Zone, commercial) and Appendix RB (Solar Ready Provisions for detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses) (Ch. 18.70).. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of El Paso Planning & Inspections Department — One Stop Shop at (915) 212-0104 before starting work.

    El Paso does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of El Paso Planning & Inspections Department — One Stop Shop at (915) 212-0104 for current turnaround.

    You'll need: Building Permit Application indicating solar scope of work. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of El Paso Planning & Inspections Department — One Stop Shop at 811 Texas Ave., El Paso, TX 79901. Phone: (915) 212-0104, email: OSSHelp@elpasotexas.gov. Office hours: Call Center: Mon-Thu 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Fri 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Lobby: Mon-Thu 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Fri 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (effective Oct 30, 2023). Official information: https://www.elpasotexas.gov/planning-and-inspections.

    El Paso, Texas has adopted: 2021 International Building Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.08; 2021 International Residential Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.10; 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.70; 2021 International Mechanical Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.12; 2020 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.16; 2021 International Plumbing Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.20; 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.24; 2021 International Existing Building Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.28; 2021 International Fire Code (ICC), per City's own 'Currently Adopted Codes and Amendments' summary; 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ICC) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.30; 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (ICC), per City's own 'Currently Adopted Codes and Amendments' summary; Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) under the Architectural Barriers Act (Tex. Gov't Code Ch. 469) and ICC/ANSI A117.1-2009; Locally authored 'Recommended Requirements to Code Officials for Solar Heating, Cooling and Hot Water Systems' (not an ICC-numbered edition) — El Paso Municipal Code Ch. 18.32; Outdoor Lighting Code, Landscape Code, and Irrigation Systems regulations — El Paso Municipal Code Chs. 18.18, 18.46, 18.47 (locally authored, not ICC editions). Local amendments apply — see the El Paso overview page for the full list.

    Sources & verification

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

    Fee schedules

    Codes & ordinances

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

    El Paso's permit history isn't searchable here yet

    This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for El Paso yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.

    Your email, and the place — never an address. We only use it to tell you when El Paso lands. Privacy.

    Other permits in El Paso

    Building PermitElectrical PermitPlumbing PermitMechanical PermitDemolition PermitRoofing PermitFence PermitSwimming Pool / Spa Permit

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