Residential Solar Permitting Program Dashboard

Senate Bill 379 (Wiener, 2022) requires non-exempt counties and cities to implement an online solar permitting platform that verifies code compliance and issues permits in real time for a residential solar energy system. This dashboard provides a visual representation that facilitates a user to identify which jurisdictions (counties and cities) have self-reported to have adopted an online, automated permitting platform as requested under SB 379. Jurisdictions in California were encouraged to apply for grants through the California Automated Permit Process Program (CalAPP) to help fund the implementation of their online platform. The map dashboard displays information on SB 379 requirements, platform status, annual reporting status, and participation in CalAPP, awarded funds, and date awarded, if applicable. The data was last updated May 2, 2024.

Disclaimer: Under SB 379, the CEC set guidelines for jurisdictions to self-report solar permitting information to the CEC. The CEC does not certify whether a jurisdiction's online, automated permitting platform complies with the requirements of SB 379. Enforcement lies outside of CEC jurisdiction but may be enforced through private claims.

Visit full page layout of dashboard or download data.

Jurisdiction:  A city, county, or city and county within California that has authority over its geographic area, also known as an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

Population: Resident population statistics in a geographic area based on the most recent data available from the California State Department of Finance. 

SB 379 (Wiener, 2022): Senate Bill that requires a non-exempt city, county, or city and county to implement an online, automated permitting platform. It must verify code compliance and issue permits in real time or allow the jurisdiction to issue permits in real time for a residential solar energy system, and a residential energy storage system paired with a residential solar energy system.

SB 379 Deadline: The month and year a non-exempt jurisdiction must comply with SB 379. SB 379 requires cities with population 50,000 or more, and counties with population 150,000 or more, to comply by September 30, 2023. Cities with a population between 5,000 to 50,000 must comply by September 30, 2024. Cities below 5,000 in population, and counties below 150,000, are exempt.  

SB 379 Platform Status Legend: Information about a jurisdiction’s status on meeting SB 379 requirements by implementing a platform that enables online, automated solar permitting, such as SolarAPP+, Symbium, or a custom platform.

  • Counties with online, automated platform: County self-reported that it has implemented an online, automated platform consistent with SB 379 requirements.
  • Cities with online, automated platform: City self-reported that it has implemented an online, automated platform consistent with SB 379 requirements.
  • Counties without platform: County has not adopted an online, automated platform yet.
  • Cities without platform: City has not adopted an online, automated platform yet.
  • Exempt Counties: County has a population of fewer than 150,000 and is exempt from SB 379.
  • Exempt Cities: City has a population of fewer than 5,000 and is exempt from SB 379.
  • Cities Exempt Until Sept 2024: Cities with a population between 5,000 and 50,000 are required to comply by September 30, 2024.

SolarAPP+ or Symbium Platform: Jurisdiction has implemented a commonly used online, automated platform. It has not been determined whether it meets all SB 379 requirements.

Custom Platform: The jurisdiction has implemented an online, automated platform that is not SolarAPP+ or Symbium. It has not been determined whether it meets all SB 379 requirements.

Annual Report Submitted: SB 379 requires the CEC to collect annual data from all non-exempt jurisdictions as described in the Residential Soler Permit Reporting Guidelines. Jurisdictions required by Senate Bill 379 to comply by September 30, 2023, are expected to report their 2023 data no later than June 30, 2024. All other non-exempt jurisdictions are expected to report no later than June 30, 2025. This annual reporting requirement lasts until June 2034.

CalAPP: California Automated Permit Process Program. A grant funding program to assist local governments in California with establishing their online, automated solar permitting. Authorized through the passage of Senate Bill 129, the CEC received $20 million from the General Fund.

  • Awarded: City or County that applied for CalAPP and has been awarded funding. Deadline for applications is May 1, 2024 or until funding is exhausted. Jurisdictions that are awarded funding are not paid (reimbursed) until after successful completion and verification of an eligible online, automated permitting software. CalAPP online platform requirements are intended to comply with SB 379.
  • Not Awarded: Has not applied or been awarded CalAPP funding. 

Funds Awarded: Grants range between $40,000 and $100,000, determined by the population of the jurisdiction. Awarded funds are reserved and funds are not disbursed until grant requirements have been completed and verified.  

Date Awarded: The date when a jurisdiction is initially awarded funds. This does not represent the date a grant agreement was executed, nor the date that funding was disbursed to the awardee.

Keyword Search: User can search keywords within the table and map, such as names of counties and cities, type of jurisdiction, compliance date, report submitted, funds awarded, date awarded, compliance status, CalAPP participation.

Information
Many jurisdictions are in the process of complying with SB 379. This Dashboard will be updated regularly as more jurisdictions implement online, automated solar permitting platforms, report annual data to the Energy Commission, or are awarded funds through the CalAPP Program.

Data last updated: May 2, 2024

Data Collection Information
The following links provide the source used to gather or validate the information included in this dashboard:

  • CalAPP Funding program administered by the Energy Commission to assist local governments in California with establishing online, automated solar permitting.
  • Data Submission Portal Energy Commission submission portal for residential solar permit reporting. This portal is intended for nonexempt cities, counties, and cities and counties (jurisdictions) to submit information annually about the issuance of residential solar permit and storage systems, to satisfy the reporting requirements detailed in Chapter 3 of the Residential Solar Permit Reporting Guidelines (SB 379 Guidelines) and Senate Bill 379. Senate Bill 379 requires the Energy Commission to collect this information annually until June 30, 2034. More information about the bill’s requirements and the SB 379 Guidelines adopted by the Energy Commission can be found at the CEC’s Residential Solar Permit Reporting. Reported information is intended to be quick and simple for a building department official to collect on behalf of the reporting jurisdiction. Questions and concerns about this reporting portal should be emailed to calapp@energy.ca.gov.
  • SolarAPP+ Developer for a standardized automated home solar permitting software that can run compliance checks to assist a jurisdiction’s permit approval for eligible rooftop solar systems.
  • Symbium Developer for a standardized automated home solar permitting software that can run compliance checks to assist a jurisdiction’s permit approval for eligible rooftop solar systems.

Citing
Please cite use of these data and images. California Energy Commission 2024. California Energy Commission Residential Solar Permitting Program Dashboard. Data last updated [insert data last updated]. Retrieved [insert date retrieved] from https://www.energy.ca.gov/residential-solar-permitting-program-dashboard

 

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