Solar Permit in Cobb County, Georgia
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before installing a residential solar panel system
Issued byCobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Cobb County's Residential Permitting checklist page lists Solar Panels as one of its own residential permit categories, confirming that a permit is required for residential solar installations in unincorporated Cobb County. No county page publishes a size, wattage, or roof area exemption for small solar systems.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors license active, and under which business name? Verify it on sos.ga.gov.
Georgia's owner-builder rule (O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(h); O.C.G.A. 43-14-13(d); O.C.G.A. 43-14-14) sets what you may do on your own home without hiring anyone. Read the statute.
When a permit is usually needed
Before installing a residential solar panel system
What a solar permit costs in Cobb County
How Cobb County compares in Georgia
No Georgia jurisdiction we have verified sets a size threshold for this permit, so what actually differs between them is the fee.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Permit required | Not published |
| Cobb Countythis page | Permit required | Fee follows the small residential construction cost table, $80 base for cost... |
| DeKalb County | Permit required | ...Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195... |
| Gwinnett County | Permit required | ...Fees table, where "Minor Renovation Projects (valued less than $75,000) |... |
How to apply in Cobb County
In Cobb County, a rooftop solar PV permit application is a combined structural and electrical plan set: a site plan and roof framing details proving the array's mounting can carry its added loads, plus a one line electrical diagram covering listed modules and inverters, disconnects, and the rapid shutdown design. Utility interconnection is a separate approval that runs in parallel with the permit.
What most solar permit applications include:
- Both a building permit and a separate electrical permit are required, since the array must be designed and installed to the residential code's solar provisions and to the National Electrical Code (IRC R324.3).
- For Cobb County, the plan set identifies listed equipment: PV modules listed to UL 1703 (or both UL 61730-1 and UL 61730-2), and inverters listed to UL 1741, with grid-tied inverters listed for utility interaction (IRC R324.3.1).
- Structural drawings show that the roof framing is designed to structurally support the array and withstand the gravity loads it adds (IRC R324.4.1).
- For Cobb County, the site plan lays out roof access pathways at least 36 inches wide, plus a ridge setback sized to how much of the roof the array covers, so firefighters retain pathways and ventilation access (IRC R324.6.1, IRC R324.6.2).
- For Cobb County, the one line electrical diagram shows the rapid shutdown method and the location of its single initiation device, since one control point must bring all system conductors down to safe levels (NEC 690.12, NEC 690.56(C)).
- Interconnecting the array to the utility grid at a defined point of connection is a separate application process from the local building or electrical permit and must be approved before the system can operate (NEC 705.12).
- Some permitting offices route applications through SolarAPP+, an automated review platform that checks the plan set against code requirements and issues eligible permits instantly (DOE SolarAPP+).
General submittal guidance from IRC 2021 R324 (Solar Energy Systems) and NEC 2020 Article 690 (Solar Photovoltaic Systems) and Article 705 (Interconnected Power Production Sources). Source. Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division sets the exact checklist for Cobb County.
Where to apply in Cobb County:
Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division
- 1150 Powder Springs St, Ste 400, Marietta, GA 30064
- Phone: (770) 528-2060
- Email: building@cobbcounty.gov
Solar Permit in Cobb County compared with nearby Georgia localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Georgia schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb County | Permit required | Any size | Fee follows the small residential construction cost table, $80 base for cost up to... | |
| Atlanta | Permit required | Any size | Not published | |
| DeKalb County | Permit required | Any size | Building Permit Application (revised 01/01/2025): "Total Minimum Fees $245 ($195 Minimum... | |
| Gwinnett County | Permit required | Any size | ...Permit Fees table, where "Minor Renovation Projects (valued less than $75,000) |... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Cobb County, inspectors verify the installed array against the approved plans, and some agencies run a rough check of roof attachments and penetrations while they are still exposed before the wiring and roofing close them in. The final inspection confirms rapid shutdown, disconnects, grounding, and required labels are installed correctly, and the system cannot be energized until the utility separately approves interconnection.
- In Cobb County: where an agency runs a rough or pre-inspection, it checks the array's roof penetrations while they are still exposed, confirming they are flashed and sealed (IRC R324.4.3).
- In Cobb County: the inspector confirms whether rapid shutdown is required, how it is accomplished, and that it is properly identified (NEC 690.12, NEC 690.56(C)).
- In Cobb County: pV disconnecting means must be permanently marked and installed where they are readily accessible, which the inspector confirms in the field (NEC 690.13).
- In Cobb County: bonding and grounding of the array, including every exposed non current carrying metal part and the grounding electrode system, is checked before sign off (NEC 690.43, NEC 690.47).
- In Cobb County: at the service equipment, the inspector looks for the required rapid shutdown placard, a labeled diagram showing the initiation device's location in the specified colors and letter sizes (NEC 690.56(C)).
- In Cobb County: utility interconnection is inspected and approved separately from the local building department's sign off, and the system cannot be energized until both approvals are in hand (NEC 705.12).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Cobb County permit portal or by phone at (770) 528-2060.
Inspection sequence from NEC 2020 Article 690 (690.12 rapid shutdown, 690.13 disconnects, 690.43/690.47 grounding, 690.56 labeling) and IRC 2021 R324.4.3 (roof penetrations). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Solar Permit checklist for Cobb County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before installing a residential solar panel system.
- Budget the fee. Fee follows the small residential construction cost table, $80 base for cost up to $15,000 rising by tier to $450 (or $6 per $1,000 above $75,001), plus a $15 technology fee; the solar application requires a cost estimate and no separate solar fee line exists, per the 2024 Fee Schedule effective 7/1/2024. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Cobb County, a rooftop solar PV permit application is a combined structural and electrical plan set: a site plan and roof framing details proving the array's mounting can carry its added loads, plus a one line electrical diagram covering listed modules and inverters, disconnects, and the rapid shutdown design. Utility interconnection is a separate approval that runs in parallel with the permit. Start at the Cobb County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division. Phone: (770) 528-2060. Address: 1150 Powder Springs St, Ste 400, Marietta, GA 30064.
- Plan for inspections. In Cobb County, inspectors verify the installed array against the approved plans, and some agencies run a rough check of roof attachments and penetrations while they are still exposed before the wiring and roofing close them in. The final inspection confirms rapid shutdown, disconnects, grounding, and required labels are installed correctly, and the system cannot be energized until the utility separately approves interconnection.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a solar permit in Cobb County?
- Cobb County's Residential Permitting checklist page lists Solar Panels as one of its own residential permit categories, confirming that a permit is required for residential solar installations in unincorporated Cobb County. No county page publishes a size, wattage, or roof area exemption for small solar systems. Always confirm with the Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division before starting.
- How much does a solar permit cost in Cobb County?
- Fee follows the small residential construction cost table, $80 base for cost up to $15,000 rising by tier to $450 (or $6 per $1,000 above $75,001), plus a $15 technology fee; the solar application requires a cost estimate and no separate solar fee line exists, per the 2024 Fee Schedule effective 7/1/2024. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a solar permit in Cobb County?
- You can apply through the Cobb County permit portal or contact the Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a solar permit themselves in Cobb County?
- Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(h); O.C.G.A. 43-14-13(d); O.C.G.A. 43-14-14): Georgia's contractor licensing law has a true owner builder exemption at O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(h), not 43-41-17(b). A property owner may construct a building on land the owner owns and act as his or her own contractor, personally providing direct supervision and management, but only if the finished building is intended solely for occupancy by the owner and the owner's family, firm, or corporation, is not for use by the general public, and is not offered for sale or lease. If the owner sold or transferred a self-built structure within the prior 24 months, measured from that structure's certificate of occupancy, the law presumes the new project was not really for personal occupancy and the exemption is unavailable without a license. The owner may not delegate supervision to any unlicensed person, and all work must still comply with county or municipal permitting and inspection requirements. For trade work, O.C.G.A. 43-14-13(d) separately allows an individual to install, alter, or repair plumbing, heating and air conditioning fixtures, and electrical or low-voltage wiring in a residential dwelling the individual owns or occupies, again in conformity with the codes and any local permit and inspection rules. Unlicensed trade work outside these exemptions is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or six months imprisonment or both (O.C.G.A. 43-14-14). Confirm how Cobb County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Cobb County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
None of the 6 project types verified for Cobb County carry a size or scope threshold. See the Permit needed column for each project's own answer, since there is no threshold to compare here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Decks are subject to a $100 site plan review fee in addition to the tiered residential... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Electrical work is billed as an $80 trade permit under the Cobb County Building Permit... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | HVAC and mechanical work is billed as an $80 trade permit under the Cobb County Building... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Plumbing work is billed as an $80 trade permit under the Cobb County Building Permit Fee... |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Pool permits carry a $250 minimum fee under the Cobb County Building Permit Fee Schedule... |
| Shed Permit | Permit required | Accessory structures are subject to a $100 site plan review fee in addition to the... |
Solar Permit in other Georgia localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Cobb County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this solar permit page for Cobb County was verified. 2 official sources: cobbcounty.gov, assets.cobbcounty.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Cobb County Community Development Agency, Development and Inspections Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page