Solar Panel Installation in California
Installing solar in California means a roof review, permits, and sign-off from your utility. Call and talk to an independent installer who works in the state.
Call to see if your home qualifies(877) 565-3409Home Solar Line connects you with an independent solar provider. We don't sell or install anything ourselves. Calls may be recorded.
- Free call
- No forms to fill out
- Independent local providers
- No obligation
Who this is for
Check all five before you call:
- You own the home (not renting)
- It's a single-family house or townhouse
- The roof gets full sun or only light shade
- Your power bill is over $100 a month
- The home doesn't already have solar panels
Renting, in a condo, apartment or mobile home, under heavy shade, or already have panels? This line can't help with those, so please don't call.
What happens when you call
- Answer a few quick questionsDo you own the home, how much is your power bill, how sunny is the roof.
- Get connectedIf your home fits, you're put through to an independent solar provider who serves your area.
- Talk it through, then decideThey look at your roof and usage and explain options. No obligation to buy.
Installing solar in California
In California the question is less "does solar work here" and more "how should a system be sized and paired with storage under current utility rules."
Most of the state gets long, dry, sunny stretches, though coastal fog and inland heat change how much a given roof produces.
Interconnection goes through your utility. In California that could be PG&E, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, and municipal utilities such as LADWP and SMUD.
Many California communities buy their power through a community choice aggregator (CCA). The big utility still delivers the power and handles the solar interconnection, but the CCA can have its own credit for exported power.
The installation steps in California, in brief
- Roof and usage review
- Design and proposal
- Site visit
- Permits and paperworkLocal permits, HOA approval if you have an HOA, and an interconnection application to your utility.
- Installation
- Inspection and permission to operateThe town or county inspects, then the utility approves the connection before the system is switched on.
Weather and site issues in California
Heat
Panels produce a bit less when they run hot, and long cooling seasons push summer bills up. Ask how the production estimate accounts for heat.
Fire-season power shutoffs
Utilities in fire-prone areas sometimes cut power during high winds. A grid-tied system without a battery shuts off during an outage too, so ask about backup if that matters to you.
Clay and concrete tile roofs are common in much of California. Mounting on tile takes different hardware and more care than on asphalt shingle, so ask how the installer handles tile.
Permits, HOAs and inspections in California
Your town or county issues the building and electrical permits and inspects the finished system. Then your utility reviews the interconnection application and gives permission to operate.
California's Solar Rights Act limits how far homeowners associations and local rules can restrict rooftop solar. An HOA can set reasonable conditions, but generally can't ban panels outright.
California contractors, including solar contractors, hold a license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and you can look up any license number on the CSLB website.
Is your roof a good fit?
South-facing roof planes with full sun from mid-morning to mid-afternoon are ideal. West and east can work. An old roof should be replaced first, since panels stay up for decades.
Ready to find out if your home is a fit?
One free call. Tell a provider about your roof and your bills, and decide from there.
Who this is for
Check all five before you call:
- You own the home (not renting)
- It's a single-family house or townhouse
- The roof gets full sun or only light shade
- Your power bill is over $100 a month
- The home doesn't already have solar panels
Renting, in a condo, apartment or mobile home, under heavy shade, or already have panels? This line can't help with those, so please don't call.
Questions
Can an HOA stop me from adding solar in California?
California's Solar Rights Act limits how far homeowners associations and local rules can restrict rooftop solar. An HOA can set reasonable conditions, but generally can't ban panels outright. The details and exceptions matter, so read your covenants too.
How do I check a solar provider in California?
California contractors, including solar contractors, hold a license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and you can look up any license number on the CSLB website. Also ask for proof of insurance before signing anything.
Are you a solar company?
No. Home Solar Line is a free phone line that connects homeowners with independent solar providers. We don't sell, design or install systems, and we don't set prices.
Does the call cost anything?
No. The call is free, and there's no obligation to buy anything from the provider you talk to.
Who qualifies?
Homeowners in a single-family house or townhouse with a roof that gets full or mostly full sun, a power bill over $100 a month, and no solar panels already. If that's not you, the provider won't be able to help.