Los Angeles County · CA NEC 2026 · LADWP + SCE Territory
Los Angeles Solar Permits.
LADWP. SCE. 88 Cities.
One Partner. 24 Hours.
Los Angeles solar permit drawings and PE-stamped plan sets for every LA County AHJ — LADBS, city building departments, and LA County DPW. LADWP full retail NEM or SCE NEM 3.0 interconnection. Residential, commercial, battery, EV charger. Free for first-time clients.
150+ installer partners
·88 LA Cities
·California PE stamped
·Free revisions
Full RetailLADWP NEM — $0.22–0.34/kWh · not NEM 3.0
88 Cities+ unincorporated LA County · all covered
PE AlwaysLADBS requires CA PE stamp for all rooftop solar
24–48 hrStandard residential plan set turnaround
2026 Codes
Electrical: CA NEC 2026 (Title 24 Part 3)
Structural: CBC 2025 / CRC 2025
LADWP: Full retail NEM · not subject to NEM 3.0
SCE (suburbs): NEM 3.0 · ~$0.07/kWh exports
Last verified July 2026
The Most Important LA Solar Fact
LADWP Is Not on NEM 3.0. Los Angeles Has Two Completely Different Solar Economics Stories — Separated by a Zip Code.
Most LA solar content conflates LADWP and SCE territory. They are not the same. Whether your customer's on LADWP or SCE determines project economics and interconnection before you've installed a single panel.
LADWPCity of Los Angeles · ~4M Residents
$0.22–$0.34
Per kWh export credit · Full retail NEM · Unchanged since 2018
✅Not subject to CPUC NEM 3.0 — municipal utility
✅Credits carry forward indefinitely — no 12-month expiry
✅1 MW system size cap — very generous
✅Battery not required for strong ROI — grid acts as storage at full credit value
✅Solar Incentive Program (SIP) rebate — $0.20–0.25/W historically
✅PermitLA express: same-day permit for ≤10 kW qualifying systems
SCESuburban LA County · Most Incorporated Cities
~$0.07
Per kWh export credit · NEM 3.0 avoided cost · Eff. April 15, 2023
⚠️Subject to CPUC NEM 3.0 Net Billing Tariff
⚠️Exports earn avoided cost — ~$0.07/kWh vs retail ~$0.26/kWh
⚠️Battery storage essential to maximize self-consumption value
✅SGIP battery rebate: $150/kWh for qualifying systems
✅Battery (Article 706) included in every plan set
✅Serves Long Beach, Torrance, El Monte, Pomona, Compton + more
⚠️ Also in LA County: Burbank Water & Power, Glendale Water & Power, Pasadena Water & Power — each a separate municipal utility with its own NEM program and interconnection application. All three offer full retail-rate NEM. We confirm the serving utility for every address before building.
Why LA Installers Outsource Permit Design
88 Cities. 5 Utility Territories. A Post-Wildfire Rebuild Market. LA Is the Most Complex Solar Market in the US.
88 Incorporated Cities — Every One a Different AHJ
LA County has 88 incorporated cities — more than any county in the US — each with its own building department and permit portal. LADBS for City of LA. Burbank Building for Burbank. LA County DPW for unincorporated territory. We confirm the AHJ for every address before drawing a sheet.
LADBS Requires PE Structural Plan Check for Every Rooftop System
There is no self-issue pathway at LADBS. Every City of LA rooftop solar project — even a small 3 kW system — requires a California-licensed PE structural plan check. Los Angeles is in a high seismic zone with multiple active fault lines. LADBS enforces this regardless of system size. Permit Design includes a California PE stamp on every LA structural sheet.
Wildfire Rebuild Market — Palisades + Eaton — Thousands of New Permits in 2026
The January 2025 Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire destroyed thousands of structures in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Topanga. Rebuilt homes create major new solar permit demand in 2026. VHFHSZ solar requires CFC §605.11 access pathway documentation — included in every plan set for affected addresses.
LA Permit Services
Residential, Commercial, Battery, and EV Charger Plan Sets for LA County Installers.
Residential Solar Permit Plans
CA NEC 2026, CBC/CRC 2025, California PE stamp for all LA rooftop projects. LADWP full retail NEM or SCE NEM 3.0 interconnection. FHSZ compliance for wildfire rebuild areas. Battery (Article 706) where included.
Residential Solar Permit Design Services →Commercial Solar Permit Plans
Commercial rooftop and carport permit drawings for LA County. CBC 2025, CA NEC 2026, CA PE stamp, LADWP or SCE commercial interconnection. Seismic SDC-D calcs for all LA commercial structures.
Commercial Solar Permit Design Services →Los Angeles Battery Permit Plans
Solar-paired and standalone battery permit drawings. NEC 2026 Article 706, LADWP or SCE storage interconnection. SCE customers: SGIP $150/kWh rebate for battery. LADWP customers: battery for wildfire resilience and PSPS outage backup.
Battery Storage Permit Design Services →EV Charger Permit Plans
EV charger permit drawings for LA County residential and commercial. CA NEC 2026 Article 625, load calculations, panel upgrade integration. Multiple LA cities have EV-ready ordinances. LADWP customers benefit from solar + battery peak offset.
EV Charger Permit Design Services →LA Solar Market — 2026
The Numbers That Drive Solar in Los Angeles Right Now.
Full Retail
LADWP NEM — Last Major CA Utility Not on NEM 3.0
LADWP credits solar exports at the full retail rate — $0.22 to $0.34 per kilowatt-hour — under LA City Electric Rate Ordinance 180127. Credits carry forward with no expiry and no 12-month true-up. LADWP is the last major California utility with full retail export credits for new customers. For LADWP customers, solar without battery remains financially strong.
88 Cities
Most AHJs of Any County in the United States
Los Angeles County has 88 incorporated cities — most of any county in the US — each with its own building department, portal, and review process. Add five distinct utility territories and the most active wildfire rebuild pipeline in California, and LA is the most complex solar permit market in the country.
Jan 2025
Palisades + Eaton Fires — Rebuild Market Active Now
The January 2025 Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire are driving thousands of new solar permit applications. Title 24 2025 Edition makes solar standard on rebuilt homes. CFC §605.11 and VHFHSZ documentation are in every LA plan set for affected addresses.
$450
LADBS Permit Fee Cap Under AB 1124 — Extended to 2034
Residential solar permit fees at LADBS are capped at $450 plus $15/kW above 15 kW under AB 1124, extended to 2034. A standard 6–10 kW system costs $200 to $450 in LADBS fees. The PermitLA express pathway issues same-day permits for qualifying ≤10 kW systems — though a CA PE structural stamp is required even for express permits.
AHJ Coverage
LA County AHJ Solar Permit Design — Every Jurisdiction. Right Utility. Right Format.
Permit Design covers all 88 incorporated cities and unincorporated County. AHJ and utility confirmed for every address.
| Jurisdiction / AHJ | Utility | NEM Type | Key Notes | Review Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Los Angeles (LADBS) | LADWP | Full Retail | PermitLA express ≤10 kW · PE stamp always required · FHSZ: Palisades, Topanga, Sylmar | Same day–3 wks |
| Long Beach | SCE | NEM 3.0 | City of Long Beach Building · Battery essential · SDC-D | 2–4 weeks |
| Burbank | Burbank Water & Power | Full Retail | BWP municipal NEM · Own interconnection | 2–3 weeks |
| Glendale | Glendale Water & Power | Full Retail | GWP municipal NEM · Own interconnection | 2–3 weeks |
| Pasadena | Pasadena Water & Power | Full Retail | PWP municipal NEM · Tile roofs in historic areas | 2–4 weeks |
| Torrance / El Segundo | SCE | NEM 3.0 | SGIP $150/kWh · Coastal ASCE 7 Exposure C wind | 2–3 weeks |
| Compton / Hawthorne / Inglewood | SCE | NEM 3.0 | Flat roofs common · Battery documentation standard | 2–3 weeks |
| Unincorporated LA County | SCE / LADWP varies | Varies by utility | LA County DPW portal · Confirm utility per address · Altadena, Topanga wildfire rebuild zones | 3–5 weeks |
Also covered: Alhambra, Arcadia, Covina, Culver City, El Monte, Gardena, Norwalk, Pomona, Santa Monica, Whittier, and all 88 cities. References: LADBS Solar Permits · LADWP Solar NEM · DSIRE California
Plan Set Contents
7 Sheets. CA PE-Stamped. Formatted for Your Specific LA AHJ and Utility.
01
Cover Sheet — Los Angeles PV Permit Plans
CA NEC 2026 (Title 24 Part 3) · CBC/CRC 2025 · Confirmed AHJ (LADBS, city, or County DPW) · LADWP retail NEM or SCE NEM 3.0 utility noted
02
Site Plan
Meter and interconnection location · Fire access per CFC §605.11 where FHSZ applies · ASCE 7 seismic and wind for LA address · VHFHSZ designation noted
03
Roof Layout
Array diagram · Pitch, azimuth, setbacks · Tile roof underlayment and re-flashing where applicable · Fire setbacks for VHFHSZ projects
04
Single-Line Diagram
CA NEC 2026 §690.12 · §690.12(D) labeling · Battery (Article 706) where included · LADWP or SCE NEM bidirectional meter · SGIP battery noted for SCE
05
Structural Calculations
California PE stamp — required for ALL LA rooftop projects · CRC/CBC 2025 · ASCE 7 seismic SDC-D · Coastal Exposure C where applicable
06
Rapid Shutdown + Labels
CA NEC 2026 §690.12(D) label format · UL 3741 PVHCS alternate path where applicable · Battery shutdown interface (Article 706)
07
Equipment Datasheets + LADWP or SCE Interconnection Package
UL-listed module, inverter, racking, MLPE, and battery datasheets · LADWP NEM Service Rider OR SCE NEM 3.0 interconnection · SGIP battery reference for SCE · CA property tax exclusion note (active through Jan 1, 2027)
Ready for Your LA Plan Set?
LADWP + SCE + BWP + GWP + PWP · All 88 Cities · 24–48 hr
How It Works
Three Steps. 24 Hours. AHJ-Ready.
📋
Submit the Project
Share the address, equipment specs, and system design. We confirm the AHJ, utility (LADWP, SCE, BWP, GWP, or PWP), FHSZ designation, and ASCE 7 seismic values.
5 minutes⚡
We Build the Plan Set
CA NEC 2026, CBC/CRC 2025, California PE stamp on structural sheets. LADWP full retail NEM or SCE NEM 3.0 interconnection documentation. Battery (Article 706) and FHSZ compliance where applicable.
24–48 hours✅
Submit and Get Approved
Submit to the AHJ and utility simultaneously. If corrections relate to our design, we revise at no charge until the permit is issued and interconnection approved.
Free revisions🛡️
The Permit Design Commitment
Your solar permit services in Los Angeles — what every LA installer and EPC gets.
✓24–48 hour delivery on standard residential solar projects
✓California PE stamp on structural sheets — required for every LA rooftop project
✓AHJ and utility confirmed before we draw a single sheet
✓Free revisions for any AHJ correction related to our design
✓LADWP or SCE interconnection per confirmed utility
Start Free Trial →
First residential plan set free.
Licensed installers & EPCs only.
Licensed installers & EPCs only.
LA Solar Permit FAQ
Questions LA Installers Ask Us
Whether your customer is on NEM 3.0 depends entirely on their utility. LADWP — which serves the City of LA — is a municipal utility outside the CPUC's reach. NEM 3.0 doesn't apply there. LADWP customers receive full retail-rate net metering at $0.22 to $0.34 per kilowatt-hour under LA City Electric Rate Ordinance 180127, unchanged since 2018, with credits carrying forward indefinitely. SCE customers in suburban LA County are on NEM 3.0, receiving approximately $0.07 per kilowatt-hour for exports. Verify the utility before proposing solar anywhere in LA.
LADBS requires a California-licensed PE structural plan check for every rooftop solar installation in the City of LA — regardless of system size. There is no self-issue residential pathway at LADBS. LA's seismic environment — multiple active fault lines — drives this requirement. Permit Design includes a CA PE stamp on every LA structural sheet.
LADWP's Solar Incentive Program (SIP) has historically offered per-watt rebates of $0.20 to $0.25 per watt of installed solar capacity — approximately $2,000 for a typical 8 kW system. The program operates in steps and the current rebate level should be confirmed directly with LADWP before including it in a customer proposal. Note that LADWP customers are not eligible for the CPUC's SGIP battery rebate — SGIP applies only to SCE, PG&E, and SDG&E customers. LADWP runs its own battery program.
Los Angeles uses the 2025 California Electrical Code (CEC) — California's adoption of NEC 2026 with state amendments, effective January 1, 2026 under Title 24 2025 Edition. All LA County jurisdictions reference the same CEC, including §690.12 rapid shutdown with California's §690.12(D) labeling.
The January 2025 Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire destroyed thousands of structures in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Topanga. Rebuilt structures create significant solar permit demand in 2026. Title 24 2025 new construction requirements make solar standard on rebuilt homes. VHFHSZ solar requires CFC §605.11 access pathways, ridge setbacks, and Class A roofing verification — included in every LA plan set for affected addresses.
Yes — all 88 incorporated cities and unincorporated County territory. We confirm the AHJ and utility for every project address. LADBS for City of LA. Each incorporated city's own building department for the 88 surrounding cities. LA County DPW for unincorporated territory. We confirm whether the address is served by LADWP, SCE, BWP, GWP, or PWP and format interconnection documentation accordingly.
No — it depends on the utility. LADWP customers receive full retail-rate NEM and do not need battery for strong solar ROI — the grid acts as storage at full credit value. Battery adds resilience against wildfire PSPS outages but is not required for financial viability. SCE customers in suburban LA are on NEM 3.0 and receive approximately $0.07 per kilowatt-hour for exports — making battery storage essential to maximize self-consumption value. SGIP offers SCE customers $150 per kilowatt-hour for qualifying battery systems.
Standard residential solar plan sets deliver in 24 to 48 hours. Battery additions are typically same business day. Commercial projects and complex residential jobs are scoped individually — typically 3 to 5 business days. Rush delivery available on request.
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Reviewed by the Permit Design Engineering Team — California-Licensed PE
CA Title 24 2025 Ed. (NEC 2026, eff. Jan 1, 2026) confirmed via CBSC. LADWP NEM program and retail-rate credits confirmed via LA City Electric Rate Ordinance 180127. SCE NEM 3.0 (eff. April 15, 2023, CPUC Decision D.22-12-056) confirmed. LADBS PE stamp requirement confirmed via LADBS permit guidelines. Palisades and Eaton Fire VHFHSZ rebuild requirements confirmed via CAL FIRE and LADBS. Last reviewed July 2026.