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Residential Solar - UPDATE
Hiring a Contractor
- Hiring a Building Contractor
- The Completed Residential Solar Projects Quarterly Report provides an overview of the total Residential Solar Projects completed during the last two calendar years and the current calendar year by contractor.
Solar Energy Tax Exemption
The County offers Solar Energy Systems Tax Exemption for solar energy equipment, facilities or devices.
Note: All required documentation must be included at time of form submission.There are three ways to submit the completed form for review:
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Email – [email protected]
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In-person – The Development Services Building
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Mail – 5 County Complex Ct., Suite 120, Prince William, VA 22192
Attention: BDD Permits
Online Training PDF
Please take a moment to view our recent presentation document on Residential Solar Energy Systems Online Training.
PDF LINKSpecial Technical Requirements
To avoid delay please ensure that the proposed submittal includes all the following:
For Roof Mounted Systems please ensure:
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Access pathways are provided
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Two 36-inch pathways shall be provided on separate roof planes from the eave to the ridge.
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One 36-inch pathway shall be located on the street or driveway side of the roof.
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One 36-inch pathway shall be located on each roof plane with a photovoltaic array or an adjacent roof plane.
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Plans and calculations are submitted sealed by a Virginia licensed engineer for engineered designs including connections to standing seam metal roofs.
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An engineering report sealed by a Virginia licensed engineer or research report by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) is provided for the mounting system (rail or rail free).
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For additional requirements please see the Residential Solar Energy Systems Checklist and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
For Ground Mounted Systems please ensure:
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Plans and calculations are submitted sealed by a Virginia licensed engineer for engineered designs including ground mount frame systems and foundations.
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A research report by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) is provided for ground anchors and helical piers.
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For additional requirements please see the Residential Solar Energy Systems Checklist and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
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The plan review for County Typical Solar Energy Systems Plan Submissions will be expedited (e.g., half the time of a normal plan submission).
Residential SolarAPP+TM (PILOT PROGRAM)
Prince William County accepts the use of SolarAPP+TM by qualified Residential Solar Contractors.
Residential Solar Contractors Qualifications
The County must pre-approve contractors to use SolarAPP+TM. To become a County Approved SolarAPP+TM Residential Contractor, send an email to [email protected] and provide the following information:
- Virginia Contactor License with the AES designation
- Prince William County Business License
- Project performance for the last seven (7) Residential Solar Projects completed in the County within the last two (2) years. The following are minimum performance requirements:
Item Average for the Last 7 Completed Projects Average Number of Plan Reviews to Approval ≤ 2.50 Average Number of Building Inspections to Final Approval ≤ 1.75 Average Number of Electrical Inspections to Final Approval ≤ 1.75
Once the County has confirmed the Residential Solar Contractor meets the minimum project performance requirements, the Construction Inspections Branch will conduct a mandatory meeting to review the SolarAPP+TM Pre-Qualification Meeting Agenda with the Residential Solar Contractor’s decision-makers and local staff. Once completed, the County will notify the SolarAPP+TM Team to add the Residential Solar Contractor to the County’s jurisdictional profile.
Misconduct and Sanctions
The County may rescind the approval for a Residential Solar Contractor to use SolarAPP+TM for the following reasons:
- Failure to maintain the required performance standards provided above.
- Failure to install a system per the SolarAPP+TM approval, and the County requiring that the project be submitted for a full County Plan Review.
- Failure to obtain the required permits before starting work.
- Acts of negligence, gross negligence, misfeasance, or malfeasance.
Allowed Projects
Each Residential Solar Project must meet all the conditions of use provided in the County Residential SolarApp+ Worksheet.
Permit Application Process
The County Approved SolarAPP+TM Residential Contractors will:
- Submit and obtain approval for the project from SolarAPP+TM
- Please refer to the customer handout ePortal - SolarAPP+ Application Process for detailed instructions.
- Submit the electronic Building Permit application through the ePortal.
- Select Permit Type Building and Work Class R-SolarAPP.
- Enter SolarAPPTM number
- Upload in Attachments the following required documents:
- SolarAPP+TM Approval Document
- SolarAPP+TM Inspection Checklist
- Competed Residential SolarApp+ Worksheet
- Engineer Structural Letter including:
- Overall evaluation statement sealed by a Virginia licensed engineer certifying the existing roof truss framing has been evaluated and is adequate for the concentrated loads from the photovoltaic panel mounting system in accordance with code without structural alterations.
- Structural calculations sealed by a Virginia licensed engineer demonstrating the existing roof truss framing is adequate for the concentrated loads from the photovoltaic panel mounting system in accordance with code without structural alterations. The species of lumber for the existing roof truss framing shall be assumed to be Spruce Pine Fir SPF #1/#2 or Hem Fir #2 unless documentation such as a photo of the truss lumber species and grade mark stamps are provided.
- Detail(s) of blocking requirements for any hip roof truss framing.
- Submit the completed application, and ePortal will send an email notification that the Building Permit is issued.
- Submit the electronic Electrical Permit application through the ePortal.
- Search for and open the Building Permit and verify that this is the correct Building Permit.
- Open the Sub-Record tab and apply for an Electrical Permit.
- The contact information will copy from the parent Building Permit. Add any additional contacts if needed.
- Complete the custom fields, including the Code Year and Code Book.
- Upload any Attachments.
- Submit the completed application, and ePortal will send an email notification that the Building Permit is issued.
This information is the most common for how to obtain the necessary permits for your project and is not representative of all the conditions you may encounter.
Follow the steps below to obtain the necessary approvals and permits for your project.
Permit Process:
Expand all- Permit Application
The customer ePortal is used for application of the submission of your project documents and payments. If you are a new user, you must first sign up for the ePortal by clicking on “Login or Register” or click here. You will enter your email address and receive an email to complete registration. Please be aware registration must be approved by county staff after you submit which may not be instant. Please allow time for processing the ePortal request prior to needing to submit.
Once you are logged into the customer ePortal, apply for a “Building Residential Alternation/Repair”. To avoid delays in your project, please ensure all requirements listed in the Residential Solar Energy System ePlan Checklist are included in the first submission and all items meet the requirements outlined in the ePlan Guide.
After submission, the plans and documents will be Quality Controlled by intake staff. If there is additional information needed a QC Denial Letter will be emailed to the applicant and the letter will be available on the ePortal. Once the submission is approved, the filing fees will be invoiced and are payable through the ePortal. The submission will be routed for review after fees are paid.
Helpful links:
Residential Solar Energy Systems ePlans Checklist
Solar Energy Plan submission and Inspections Guidelines
Solar Energy Systems – Roof Mounted Solar Panels Structural Typical
Solar Energy Systems – Small, Micro Inverter/AC System
- Fees
Review Fees (filing fee) and permit fees can be found in the fee schedule.
Review fees (filing fee) will be invoiced after the submission has passed QC. Fees must be paid in full prior to the plans being routed for review.
Permit fees will be invoiced after approval of the drawings and prior to the permit being issued.
- Plan Review
If the system is not per the County Typical Solar Energy System Plans, plan review time is 10 days for residential solar panels. If the reviewer needs additional information a comment letter will be sent to the customer via email and the ePortal. Once the requested information is re-submitted in the ePortal, it will go through QC again and be re-routed for a 5 day review after resubmission fees are paid. Once the review is approved, the submission will be sent to permits for processing.
- Permit Issuance
Once all county reviews are approved, permits will verify the required documents for permitting (state and county business licensing). After all requirements are met, the permit fee will be invoiced to the customer, payable via the ePortal. Once fees are paid the permit will be issued and can be printed through the ePortal.
- Inspections
The customer is required to obtain inspections from the county for their project. The county must be notified when the stages of construction are reached that require an inspection; see the required inspection codes below. Along with the permits being posted and the reviewed drawing on-site, the required photos and the completed Solar Energy System Inspection Certification are required to be available for the inspector at the time of inspection.
- Required Scheduled Inspection Types for PV Solar Energy Systems
- Building Permit Inspections
- Residential Code # 151 (final inspection) or
(If applicable) SolarAPP+TM Residential Code # 158 (final inspection)
- Residential Code # 151 (final inspection) or
- Electrical Permit Inspections
- (If applicable) Residential code # 202 (electrical service)
- (If applicable) Residential Code # 208 (other electrical trench)
- Residential Code # 250 (final inspection) or
(If applicable) SolarAPP+TM Residential Code # 258 (final inspection)
- Building Permit Inspections
- Required Scheduled Inspection Types for Solar Hot Water Systems
- Building Permit Inspections
- Residential Code # 151 (final inspection)
- Mechanical Permit Inspections
- Residential Code # 350 (final inspection)
- Electrical Permit Inspections
- (If applicable) Residential Code # 250 (final inspection)
- Building Permit Inspections
- Required Scheduled Inspection Types for PV Solar Energy Systems