Fact Sheet
Community Solar Fact Sheet
December 1, 2023
Fact Sheet
Instant and Third-Party Permitting
Overview
Instant permitting refers to automated, online platforms that streamline the permitting and approval of residential solar, battery systems, and other home electrification technologies. These platforms automate safety and code-compliance checks for simple installations and can issue permits or permit revisions in real time. By speeding, streamlining, and standardizing the permitting process, instant permitting helps reduce costs for families, installers, and local governments. Instant permitting also plays a crucial role in cost-effectively meeting rising electricity demand from data centers and other large loads. States are adopting instant permitting to reduce energy costs, support bill savings, accelerate the deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs), and increase reliability and resilience.
Key Points
Key Point 1
Residential solar is far more expensive in the U.S. than in peer countries such as Australia and Germany. Nearly 80% of the cost of U.S. solar is made up of “soft costs,” such as permitting and inspection processes. (Permit Power)
Key Point 2
As of 2023, instant permitting platforms — such as the federal government’s SolarApp+ — have saved local governments 15,400 staff hours and cut permitting timelines by an average of 14.5 days. (SolarApp+); (National Laboratory of the Rockies)
Key Point 3
Residential solar, home batteries, heat pumps, and other clean technologies help households save money, increase property value, and provide resilience during outages. (BDC); (Stanford); (Berkeley Lab); (SEIA)
Policy Options
- Florida HB 683 (Enacted 2025): Requires municipalities to allow private providers to use instant permitting software to expedite the permitting process for residential solar and battery systems.
- Texas SB 1202 (Enacted 2025): Streamlines the process for installing home backup power systems by allowing qualified third parties to review and inspect development documents, and sets clear requirements for regulatory authorities.
- New Jersey A.5264 (Enacted 2025): Requires the state to make available, and for local jurisdictions to adopt, an automated online software platform for approving residential solar and battery permits.
- California SB 379 (Enacted 2022): Requires every city, county, or city and county to implement an online, automated permitting platform that verifies code compliance and issues permits in real time.
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