IL
🏙️ Illinois
Top Solar State
ILLINOIS
SOLAR PERMIT
CHICAGO CODE.
ILLINOIS SHINES.
ALL 102 COUNTIES.
Chicago runs on its own electrical code — the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code (Section 14E-6-690) — not NEC 2020. Every Chicago plan set must cite this code explicitly on every sheet. Outside Chicago, Illinois enforces NEC 2020. Illinois Shines SREC pays ~$110 per credit upfront. Net metering changed January 1, 2025. Every Illinois plan set we build is formatted correctly from the first sheet.
2018 Chicago Electrical Code (Chicago)
NEC 2020 (Rest of Illinois)
Illinois Shines SREC Ready
ComEd · Ameren · MidAmerican
All 102 Counties
2 CODES
Chicago CEC + Statewide NEC 2020
~$110
Illinois Shines SREC value per credit
$300/kW
ComEd Smart Inverter Rebate
Jan 2025
Net metering policy change date
Illinois Solar Permits
TWO CODE SYSTEMS. ONE STATE. ONE MAJOR INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
Permit Design produces Illinois solar permit plan sets for solar installers, EPCs, and roofing companies across all 102 Illinois counties. Illinois has a unique code structure that creates one of the most common errors in the solar permit industry: Chicago operates under the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code (Section 14E-6-690), while the rest of Illinois enforces NEC 2020. A plan set built for Naperville submitted to Chicago DOB — or a Chicago-specific plan set submitted to a Cook County suburb — will be rejected at intake. Every Permit Design Illinois plan set is built for the correct code system before a single sheet is drawn.
Illinois Shines — the Adjustable Block Program administered by the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) — provides an upfront payment worth approximately $110 per SREC, representing around $1,320 per year in value for a typical residential system. The installer must be an IPA Approved Vendor to submit Illinois Shines applications on behalf of customers. The net metering policy changed significantly on January 1, 2025 — systems installed after that date receive supply-only credits rather than full retail net metering. ComEd offers a $300/kW Smart Inverter Rebate on top of Illinois Shines.
Every Permit Design Illinois plan set references the correct electrical code for the project's AHJ, includes Illinois Shines SREC documentation fields, and is formatted for ComEd or Ameren interconnection. Free revisions until your Illinois AHJ approves.
Last updated: May 2026 · Reading time: ~8 minutes · 2018 Chicago Electrical Code, Illinois Shines, and ComEd/Ameren references current as of May 2026.
Electrical Code
ILLINOIS HAS TWO ELECTRICAL CODES — CHICAGO AND EVERYWHERE ELSE
This is the most common Illinois solar permit error. Chicago enforces its own code entirely. Every other Illinois jurisdiction enforces NEC 2020. Getting this wrong means rejection at intake — not at review. The plan set never gets evaluated.
CHICAGO PLAN SETS MUST CITE SECTION 14E-6-690 ON EVERY SHEET
Chicago building officials reject plan sets at intake when the code reference on the cover sheet says "NEC 2020" instead of "2018 Chicago Electrical Code (Section 14E-6-690)". This applies to every sheet in the plan set — cover sheet, single-line diagram, roof layout, and site plan. Plan sets citing NEC 2020 for a Chicago address are non-compliant with Chicago's adopted electrical code and are returned without review. The 2019 Chicago Building Code must also be cited for structural references.
City of Chicago
Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB)
Electrical code2018 Chicago Electrical Code (CEC) — Section 14E-6-690
Building code2019 Chicago Building Code
NEC referenceDO NOT cite NEC 2020
Permits requiredBuilding permit + Electrical permit (Chicago licensed electrician)
Timeline3–6 weeks standard residential
Historic districtsGold Coast, Lincoln Park, landmark buildings require additional review
UtilityComEd — interconnection via ComEd portal
All Other Illinois
102 counties + municipalities outside Chicago city limits
Electrical codeNEC 2020 — most Illinois AHJs
AdoptionNo single statewide adoption — each municipality independently
Permits requiredBuilding + Electrical permits (vary by AHJ)
Cook County suburbsNaperville, Evanston, Oak Park — separate from Chicago DOB
Timeline1–4 weeks most Illinois jurisdictions
UtilitiesComEd (northern IL) · Ameren (central/southern IL) · MidAmerican (NW)
Verify jurisdiction by address — not by "Chicago area." Naperville, Evanston, Oak Park, and Schaumburg are in Cook County or collar counties but use NEC 2020, not the Chicago Electrical Code. Only properties within Chicago city limits use the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code. Permit Design verifies the correct code for every Illinois project by address.
Illinois Shines Program
ILLINOIS SHINES — THE STATE'S PRIMARY SOLAR FINANCIAL INCENTIVE
The Illinois Shines Adjustable Block Program (ABP), administered by the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) under CEJA, provides an upfront payment based on SRECs your system is expected to produce over 15 years. Every SREC equals one MWh — and each is worth approximately $110.
SREC Value
~$110
Per SREC · Illinois Power Agency sets rate · Rate declines in each block — earlier installations earn higher rates
Annual Yield
~$1,320
Per year average · One SREC per MWh produced · Typical 5kW residential system generates ~6 SRECs/year
Program Duration
15 Years
From system installation · Upfront payment based on projected 15-year output · Some utilities pay at year 7 + year 15
Who Qualifies
ComEd + Ameren
Illinois Shines available to ComEd and Ameren customers · Installer must be IPA Approved Vendor to submit applications
Payment Structure
Upfront
Approved Vendor (installer) typically reduces system cost by the SREC value or passes payment to customer after program enrollment
Tax Treatment
Taxable
SREC payments are IRS taxable income · Report on federal tax return · Plan the tax impact when presenting Illinois Shines value to customers
Illinois Shines Enrollment — 6-Step Process
Step 01
Customer selects an IPA Approved Vendor (solar installer registered with the Illinois Power Agency). Installer provides a Disclosure Form before signing any contract — required by Illinois Shines rules.
Step 02
Approved Vendor submits Illinois Shines application through the IPA portal. Block availability is limited — earlier submissions lock in higher SREC rates before the next block pricing decline.
Step 03
Local building and electrical permits obtained. Illinois Shines requires AHJ permit approval before system activation — the plan set must pass the AHJ review correctly on first submission to avoid delaying the enrollment timeline.
Step 04
ComEd or Ameren interconnection application approved. System installed and passes local final inspection. Utility issues Permission to Operate.
Step 05
Illinois Shines enrollment confirmed by IPA. Upfront payment issued — either as a reduction in the system cost from the Approved Vendor or paid directly to the customer (varies by agreement).
Step 06
SREC generation monitored over 15 years. Some utilities pay a second lump sum at year 7. SREC payments are reported as taxable income each year received.
Net Metering — Critical 2025 Change
ILLINOIS NET METERING CHANGED JANUARY 1, 2025 — WHAT INSTALLERS MUST KNOW
The net metering policy change is the most financially significant development for Illinois solar in recent years. The system you're installing today does not earn the same export credits as a system installed before 2025. Know the difference before quoting customers.
Before January 1, 2025 — Grandfathered
Full Retail Net Metering
✓ Full retail rate credits for every kWh exported to grid
✓ Credits apply to all bill charges including delivery
✓ Grandfathered for the lifetime of the system
✓ Applies to ComEd, Ameren, and MidAmerican customers
⚠ Grandfathered status is lost if system capacity is expanded in ComEd territory — expanding triggers a new interconnection application under the new policy
After January 1, 2025 — New Installations
Supply-Only Net Metering
✗ Credits apply only to supply and transmission charges — NOT delivery charges
✗ Significantly reduces the value of grid exports vs pre-2025 systems
✓ Illinois Shines SREC and ComEd rebates remain available and partly offset this change
✓ Financial strategy shifts to maximizing self-consumption, not grid export
✓ Battery storage maximizes self-consumption value — ComEd offers $300/kWh storage rebate
Advice for Illinois installers post-2025. Size systems to closely match daytime household consumption rather than maximising export capacity. Add battery storage to capture excess generation rather than exporting at the reduced supply-only rate. The ComEd $300/kWh storage rebate makes solar-plus-storage an increasingly attractive package for Illinois customers — and the Illinois Shines SREC program value is unaffected by the net metering change.
Illinois Utilities
COMED vs AMEREN — ILLINOIS UTILITY INTERCONNECTION
Illinois has three investor-owned utilities. ComEd and Ameren serve the vast majority of the state. Each has different interconnection requirements, rebate amounts, and export credit rates. Verify the serving utility by address before building any plan set.
ComEd
Commonwealth Edison — Northern Illinois
TerritoryChicago · Suburbs · Northern 1/3 of Illinois
Smart Inverter Rebate$300/kW solar · $300/kWh storage
RequirementMust enroll in Real-Time Pricing
Net metering (post-2025)Supply-only credits
ISA timeline4–8 weeks standard
Storage expansion noteAdding storage may trigger new interconnection — loses grandfathered NEM status
Ameren Illinois
Central and Southern Illinois
TerritorySpringfield · Peoria · Decatur · Carbondale · Southern IL
Smart Inverter RebateSimilar program — verify current rates with Ameren
Net metering (post-2025)Supply-only credits
ISA timeline4–8 weeks standard
Storage expansion rulesDiffer from ComEd — confirm before advising legacy net metering customers
MidAmerican Energy
Northwest Illinois — Small Territory
TerritorySmall area in northwest Illinois near Iowa border
Net meteringRequired by state law
Illinois ShinesAvailable to MidAmerican customers
Coverage noteVerify by address — MidAmerican territory is small and easily confused with ComEd
ComEd Smart Inverter Rebate — $300/kW + $300/kWh
$1,500
Typical 5 kW Residential System
$300 per kW of solar × 5 kW = $1,500 ComEd rebate. Must use qualifying smart inverter. Customer must enroll in ComEd Real-Time Pricing. Applied for through ComEd after installation — include in installer scope of work.
$4,500
5 kW Solar + 10 kWh Battery
$300/kW solar ($1,500) + $300/kWh storage ($3,000) = $4,500 total. Adding storage to a solar system maximises the ComEd rebate AND increases self-consumption value under the post-2025 supply-only net metering policy.
PTAX-330
Property Tax Exemption Form
Illinois provides 100% property tax exemption on solar-added home value. File form PTAX-330 with your county assessor after installation. Illinois also exempts solar equipment from state sales tax — both incentives remain in place regardless of the net metering change.
What's Included
ILLINOIS SOLAR PERMIT PLAN SET CONTENTS
Every Illinois solar permit plan set from Permit Design references the correct electrical code for the project's AHJ — 2018 Chicago Electrical Code for Chicago, NEC 2020 for all other Illinois jurisdictions — and includes Illinois Shines documentation and ComEd or Ameren interconnection packages.
01
Cover Sheet
Project address, Illinois county, AHJ details. Chicago projects: "2018 Chicago Electrical Code (Section 14E-6-690)" and "2019 Chicago Building Code" cited explicitly. All other Illinois: "NEC 2020" cited. Contractor IDFPR license information and interconnection application reference field included on every cover sheet.
02
Site Plan
Scaled site plan with property boundaries, ComEd or Ameren utility meter location, fire code access pathways, and array-to-inverter routing. Chicago projects include Chicago Fire Prevention Code pathway documentation. Historic Chicago district notation included for Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, and designated landmark areas.
03
Roof Layout
Panel array layout with roof pitch, orientation, structural attachment points, fire code setbacks, and rafter/truss documentation. Illinois wind loads vary — Chicago Lake Michigan shoreline exposure requires higher wind load calculations than inland Illinois. ASCE 7-22 wind zone confirmed per project county and exposure category.
04
Single-Line Diagram
Complete electrical schematic citing the correct Illinois code — 2018 Chicago Electrical Code Section 14E-6-690 for Chicago, NEC 2020 Article 690 for all other Illinois. Formatted for ComEd or Ameren interconnection review standards. Smart inverter documentation included for ComEd rebate qualification. Rapid shutdown documented per applicable code.
05
Illinois Shines Documentation
System specification documentation formatted to IPA Approved Vendor Illinois Shines application requirements. SREC production estimate documentation. ComEd or Ameren Approved Vendor enrollment fields. Required Disclosure Form elements pre-populated. Illinois Shines documentation enables the Approved Vendor to submit the SREC application immediately after permit approval.
06
Structural Calculations
Structural analysis per ASCE 7-22 — dead load, wind load, and snow load. Illinois ground snow loads range from 20 psf in southern Illinois to 30 psf in Chicago and northern Illinois. Chicago Lake Michigan shoreline exposure category increases wind design loads. Rafter sizing and penetration documentation included per 2019 Chicago Building Code or IBC as applicable.
07
Utility Interconnection Package
ComEd or Ameren interconnection application documentation formatted to each utility's specific requirements. Submit to ComEd or Ameren simultaneously with the local building permit to run both timelines in parallel. ComEd interconnection: 4–8 weeks. Ameren: 4–8 weeks. Interconnection application number field on every cover sheet.
08
Equipment Datasheets
UL-listed manufacturer spec sheets for all components. For ComEd rebate qualification, smart inverter spec sheet must confirm smart inverter designation. For Illinois Shines SREC qualification, all equipment must meet IPA eligible equipment requirements. Battery storage systems include separate documentation for the ComEd $300/kWh storage rebate calculation.
Process
HOW ILLINOIS SOLAR PERMIT PLAN SETS WORK
01
Submit Your Illinois Project
Send us the property address (we determine Chicago vs rest of Illinois), roof photos or satellite image, equipment model numbers, and serving utility (ComEd, Ameren, or MidAmerican). We verify the correct electrical code before building — never assumed by county name.
02
We Build to the Correct Illinois Code
Chicago projects: 2018 Chicago Electrical Code Section 14E-6-690 + 2019 Chicago Building Code cited on every sheet. All other Illinois: NEC 2020. Illinois Shines documentation and ComEd or Ameren interconnection package included. ComEd Smart Inverter Rebate documentation fields pre-populated.
03
AHJ-Ready + Utility-Ready in 24–48 Hours
Your complete Illinois solar permit plan set — correct electrical code, Illinois Shines SREC documentation, and ComEd or Ameren interconnection package — delivered in 24–48 hours. Submit to your AHJ and utility simultaneously. Free revisions until your Illinois AHJ approves.
First-Time Illinois Clients
TRY US ON YOUR FIRST ILLINOIS PROJECT. FREE.
New to Permit Design? Send us your first Illinois residential solar project and we'll deliver the complete plan set free — correct Chicago or statewide code, Illinois Shines SREC documentation, and ComEd or Ameren interconnection included.
Available for first-time clients only. One free residential plan set per company.
Claim Your Free IL Plan Set →
Correct code: Chicago CEC or NEC 2020
Illinois Shines SREC documentation
ComEd or Ameren interconnection
$300/kW rebate fields pre-populated
Free revisions until AHJ approval
Illinois Solar Market
ILLINOIS SOLAR MARKET — 2026 DATA
~$110
Illinois Shines SREC Value Per Credit
Each Illinois Shines SREC is worth approximately $110, generating around $1,320 per year for a typical residential system. The upfront payment is based on projected 15-year production. Block pricing declines slightly each year — installations in earlier blocks earn higher lifetime SREC values. The Illinois Power Agency administers the program under CEJA. SREC payments are considered taxable income by the IRS.
$300/kW
ComEd Smart Inverter Rebate
ComEd offers $300 per kW of solar and $300 per kWh of battery storage for systems with qualifying smart inverters. Customer must enroll in Real-Time Pricing. For a 5 kW system with a 10 kWh battery, the rebate equals $4,500 paid directly to the customer. This rebate is separate from Illinois Shines and can be stacked with the SREC program. Ameren offers similar rebate programs for its service territory customers.
Jan 2025
Net Metering Policy Change Date
Systems interconnected before January 1, 2025 are grandfathered into full retail net metering for the life of the system. Systems installed after this date receive supply-only credits — applicable only to supply and transmission charges, not delivery charges. This significantly reduces export value for new installations. The financial strategy for post-2025 systems prioritizes self-consumption and battery storage over grid export.
+22%
Illinois Electricity Price Increase 2020–2024
Illinois electricity prices rose 22% from 2020 to 2024, making solar-generated electricity increasingly valuable for self-consumption. Even under the supply-only net metering policy, the value of solar electricity consumed on-site is the full retail rate. The price increase drives stronger solar ROI on self-consumed generation and makes battery storage more financially compelling.
100%
Property Tax Exemption on Solar Added Value
Illinois provides a complete property tax exemption on the added home value attributable to solar installations. File PTAX-330 with the county assessor after installation — the installer should provide system specifications. Illinois also exempts solar equipment from state sales tax. Solar homes in Illinois sell for approximately 4.1% more than comparable non-solar homes, and none of that added value is subject to property tax.
CEJA
Climate and Equitable Jobs Act — Foundation of IL Solar Policy
The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), signed in 2021, expanded Illinois Shines significantly, increased the Adjustable Block Program capacity, created the Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) low-income solar program, and established Illinois's goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. CEJA funds Illinois Shines and drives ComEd and Ameren's solar interconnection expansion across the state.
Illinois AHJ Rejections
TOP 3 REASONS ILLINOIS SOLAR PERMITS GET REJECTED
Illinois's dual code system and Illinois Shines documentation requirements create rejection risks specific to this state. These are the three most common triggers across Chicago, suburban Cook County, and downstate Illinois.
01
Chicago Plan Set Citing NEC 2020 Instead of 2018 CEC
The single most common Illinois rejection — and one of the most preventable. Chicago building officials reject plan sets at intake when the electrical code reference is "NEC 2020" instead of "2018 Chicago Electrical Code (Section 14E-6-690)." This applies to every sheet — cover sheet, single-line diagram, and all other pages. Design firms that use standard NEC templates for Chicago projects cause this error repeatedly. Chicago DOB does not review the plan set when the code citation is wrong — it goes directly back to the submitter.
2018 Chicago Electrical Code § 14E-6-690How we prevent it: Every Chicago plan set cites "2018 Chicago Electrical Code (Section 14E-6-690)" and "2019 Chicago Building Code" on every sheet — never NEC 2020 for Chicago addresses.
02
Wrong Utility Interconnection Documentation
ComEd serves northern Illinois and Chicago while Ameren serves central and southern Illinois — but the boundaries are not always obvious. Naperville and western suburbs may be at the ComEd/Ameren border. Using ComEd interconnection documentation for an Ameren address — or vice versa — results in rejection at the utility review stage. The application must be re-filed from scratch with the correct utility. This is especially common for downstate Illinois projects where installers based in Chicago assume ComEd territory statewide.
ComEd vs Ameren territory verificationHow we prevent it: We verify the serving utility (ComEd, Ameren, or MidAmerican) by project address before building. Interconnection documentation is formatted for the specific utility — never assumed by city name.
03
Illinois Shines Disclosure Form Not Provided Before Contract
Illinois Shines rules require IPA Approved Vendors to provide customers with a Disclosure Form before signing any solar contract. The Disclosure Form must show the exact Illinois Shines payment amount, confirm whether it's guaranteed, and disclose how and when the SREC payment will be passed to the customer. Approved Vendors who skip the Disclosure Form step — or provide it after contract signing — create compliance issues that can delay or void Illinois Shines enrollment for the entire project. This is a documentation process issue that affects permit timelines indirectly.
Illinois Shines IPA Disclosure Form requirementHow we prevent it: Every Illinois Shines project plan set includes documentation fields formatted to IPA Approved Vendor requirements, with a clear Disclosure Form checklist for the Approved Vendor to complete before contract signing.
See all 8 common plan set rejection reasons and fixes → Residential Solar Permit Design →
FAQ
ILLINOIS SOLAR PERMIT DESIGN — FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Chicago enforces the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code (CEC), specifically Section 14E-6-690, combined with the 2019 Chicago Building Code. Every Chicago solar permit plan set must cite these codes explicitly on every sheet. Plan sets citing NEC 2020 for Chicago addresses are rejected at intake without review.
Outside Chicago, most Illinois municipalities enforce NEC 2020. Illinois has no single statewide NEC adoption — each municipality adopts independently. Springfield, Rockford, Naperville, Peoria, and most downstate cities enforce NEC 2020. Always verify with your specific Illinois AHJ before submitting a plan set.
Illinois Shines (Adjustable Block Program) provides an upfront payment based on SRECs your system is expected to produce over 15 years — each SREC equals one MWh, worth approximately $110. Administered by the Illinois Power Agency (IPA). Available to ComEd, Ameren, and MidAmerican customers. The installer must be an IPA Approved Vendor. SREC payments are taxable income. Block pricing declines each year — earlier installations earn higher lifetime values.
Systems installed before January 1, 2025 are grandfathered into full retail net metering for life. Systems installed after January 1, 2025 receive supply-only credits — applicable only to supply and transmission charges, not delivery charges. The financial strategy shifts to maximizing self-consumption. ComEd's $300/kWh storage rebate makes battery storage increasingly attractive to offset the reduced export value.
ComEd offers $300 per kW of solar and $300 per kWh of battery storage for qualifying smart inverter systems. Customer must enroll in Real-Time Pricing. A 5 kW system earns $1,500; a 5 kW system with a 10 kWh battery earns $4,500. Applied for through ComEd after installation — include in installer scope. Ameren offers similar programs for its territory customers.
ComEd serves northern Illinois including Chicago and its suburbs. Ameren Illinois serves central and southern Illinois including Springfield, Peoria, and Carbondale. MidAmerican Energy serves a small area in northwest Illinois. Each has different interconnection requirements and rebate programs. Verify the serving utility by address — Naperville-area projects sit near the ComEd/Ameren border.
Illinois provides a 100% property tax exemption on the added home value from solar. File PTAX-330 with your county assessor after installation — your installer should provide system specifications. Illinois also exempts solar equipment from state sales tax. Solar homes in Illinois sell for approximately 4.1% more than comparable non-solar homes, with zero additional property tax on that added value.
Permit Design delivers Illinois solar permit plan sets within 24–48 hours. Chicago projects reference the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code (Section 14E-6-690) and 2019 Chicago Building Code on every sheet. All other Illinois projects reference NEC 2020. Every plan set includes Illinois Shines SREC documentation and ComEd or Ameren interconnection packages. Free revisions until your Illinois AHJ approves.
⚡
Reviewed & Verified By
Permit Design Engineering Team
Licensed Professional Engineers (PE) across all 50 US states · 2,500+ AHJ-ready plan sets delivered monthly · 150+ solar installer partners worldwide
Neighboring States
SOLAR PERMIT PLAN SETS — NEIGHBORING STATES
READY FOR ILLINOIS AHJ APPROVAL?
Chicago 2018 CEC · NEC 2020 · Illinois Shines SREC Ready
ComEd · Ameren · $300/kW Rebate · All 102 Counties · 24–48 hours
First-time Illinois client? Your first residential plan set is on us. Mention "free trial" in your order notes.