Government permit fees
Hillsborough County publishes its current permit fee schedules at hcfl.gov. Ask your contractor to list government fees separately from design and permit-handling charges.
Confirm the correct permit application
Hillsborough County's checklist directs roof-mounted solar applications to an Electrical Trade permit and ground-mounted applications to a Residential Miscellaneous permit through HillsGovHub. Confirm the applicable jurisdiction before applying. Source: [Hillsborough County Solar Photovoltaic System Checklist](https://hcfl.gov/businesses/hillsgovhub/residential-and-mobile-home-checklists/solar-photovoltaic-system-checklist).
Prepare plans for the actual property
The county checklist calls for signed and sealed design documents addressing structural support, wind loads, roof access and setbacks under the current Florida Building Code. Ground-mounted proposals also need attention to site constraints. Source: [Hillsborough County Solar Photovoltaic System Checklist](https://hcfl.gov/businesses/hillsgovhub/residential-and-mobile-home-checklists/solar-photovoltaic-system-checklist).
Ask your contractor who prepares the documents and handles requested changes.
Clarify inspections and utility coordination
Ask the contractor to identify required inspections and explain how permit closeout will be documented. Keep the approved plans and final records with your installation contract.
Ask separately about utility interconnection and permission to operate. Have the contractor explain which steps depend on the utility and which documents you will receive.
Discuss fees and scheduling directly
Permit-related cost varies; get several quotes and ask what each includes. Have contractors identify responsibility for application charges, design revisions and inspection-related work in their written proposals.
Request a project-specific schedule that explains dependencies. This site does not publish a permit fee or approval timeframe.
Use permit records as background
Hillsborough County permit records show 1,348 solar permits filed and 97 contractors represented during the reporting period. A permit filing does not establish that a project passed inspection or that a contractor is suitable for your home.
Verify the chosen contractor's license and review the proposed scope independently. Declared permit values are not price quotes.
Questions homeowners ask
Does roof-mounted solar need a Hillsborough permit?
For properties under county jurisdiction, the county solar checklist identifies an Electrical Trade permit for roof-mounted systems. Confirm the current requirements for your property. Source: [Hillsborough County solar checklist](https://hcfl.gov/businesses/hillsgovhub/residential-and-mobile-home-checklists/solar-photovoltaic-system-checklist).
Who should handle the permit paperwork?
Ask the contractor you choose to state in the contract who prepares plans, submits the application, answers review comments and arranges inspections. RG Holdings provides referrals and does not handle installation or permitting.
How long does permitting take?
Ask the contractor and permitting authority about your specific application. Plan completeness, revisions and property conditions can affect the process. This site does not promise an approval date.
Does association approval replace a permit?
Treat association review and government permitting as separate checks. Ask the contractor and your association what applies to your proposed layout, and confirm the government requirements with the permitting authority.
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