South Carolina / Greenville County
Solar Permit in Greenville County, South Carolina
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before installing roof-mounted or ground-mounted solar panels on a home.
Issued byGreenville County Building Safety (Planning and Code Compliance)
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Greenville County requires a permit for residential solar photovoltaic systems, applied for on the Residential Addition/Alteration Permit Application through eTRAKiT. The county's solar guidelines require a single-line electrical drawing, an "eyes on" statement of the roof structure, a South Carolina sealed structural review, and an approved interconnect letter from the power company. No system-size or cost floor is published; the guidelines note residential systems are limited to 20 kW AC under S.C. Code 58-39-20.
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 South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board license active, and under which business name? Verify it on verify.llronline.com.
South Carolina's owner-builder rule (S.C. Code Ann. 40-59-260(A), (B), (C), (E), (F); 40-59-265; 40-59-280; 40-59-20(6), (7); 40-59-30(A)) sets what you may do on your own home without hiring anyone. Read the statute.
When a permit is usually needed
Before installing roof-mounted or ground-mounted solar panels on a home.
What a solar permit costs in Greenville County
How Greenville County compares in South Carolina
No South Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | Permit required | ...permit fee per Building and Trade Permit Fee Schedule," which is a $40.00... |
| Columbia | Permit required | ...of Ordinances Sec. 5-204(a)(2) for one and two family dwellings: $20.00... |
| Greenville Countythis page | Permit required | Electrical schedule line Solar Panel per 5kw at $48.00, with the electrical... |
How to apply in Greenville County
In Greenville 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 Greenville 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 Greenville 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 Greenville 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. Greenville County Building Safety (Planning and Code Compliance) sets the exact checklist for Greenville County.
Where to apply in Greenville County:
Greenville County Building Safety (Planning and Code Compliance)
- 301 University Ridge, Greenville County Square, Suite S-3100, Greenville, SC 29601
- Phone: 864-467-7060
- Email: permits@greenvillecounty.org
Solar Permit in Greenville County compared with nearby South Carolina localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each South Carolina schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville County | Permit required | Any size | Electrical schedule line Solar Panel per 5kw at $48.00, with the electrical minimum fee... | |
| Charleston | Permit required | Any size | ...& Repairs permit fee per Building and Trade Permit Fee Schedule," which is a $40.00... | |
| Columbia | Permit required | Any size | ...under Code of Ordinances Sec. 5-204(a)(2) for one and two family dwellings: $20.00... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Greenville 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 Greenville 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 Greenville 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 Greenville 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 Greenville 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 Greenville 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 Greenville 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 Greenville County permit portal or by phone at 864-467-7060.
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 Greenville County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before installing roof-mounted or ground-mounted solar panels on a home.
- Budget the fee. Electrical schedule line Solar Panel per 5kw at $48.00, with the electrical minimum fee per permit of $72.00 (Residential Permit Fees schedule; no effective date printed). Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Greenville 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 Greenville County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Greenville County Building Safety (Planning and Code Compliance). Phone: 864-467-7060. Address: 301 University Ridge, Greenville County Square, Suite S-3100, Greenville, SC 29601.
- Plan for inspections. In Greenville 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 .
Permitting activity in Greenville County
In 2025, Greenville County authorized permits for 4,947 new residential housing units (4,222 single-family, 725 in multi-family buildings), valued at $2.0B, down from 5,575 the year before. That works out to about 8.5 permits per 1,000 residents.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual data · population 583,125.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a solar permit in Greenville County?
- Greenville County requires a permit for residential solar photovoltaic systems, applied for on the Residential Addition/Alteration Permit Application through eTRAKiT. The county's solar guidelines require a single-line electrical drawing, an "eyes on" statement of the roof structure, a South Carolina sealed structural review, and an approved interconnect letter from the power company. No system-size or cost floor is published; the guidelines note residential systems are limited to 20 kW AC under S.C. Code 58-39-20. Always confirm with the Greenville County Building Safety (Planning and Code Compliance) before starting.
- How much does a solar permit cost in Greenville County?
- Electrical schedule line Solar Panel per 5kw at $48.00, with the electrical minimum fee per permit of $72.00 (Residential Permit Fees schedule; no effective date printed). See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- How long does a solar permit take in Greenville County?
- Five-day processing period for permits to be issued, per the Building Safety notice (the Forms and Applications page notice still reads one to two weeks). Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.
- Where do you apply for a solar permit in Greenville County?
- You can apply through the Greenville County permit portal or contact the Greenville County Building Safety (Planning and Code Compliance) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a solar permit themselves in Greenville County?
- Under South Carolina law (S.C. Code Ann. 40-59-260(A), (B), (C), (E), (F); 40-59-265; 40-59-280; 40-59-20(6), (7); 40-59-30(A)): South Carolina licenses residential builders and residential specialty contractors under S.C. Code Title 40 Chapter 59, and 40-59-260 exempts the owner of record who builds for himself. The exemption applies only if the owner does the work himself, with his own employees, or with licensed contractors or registered entities, if the structure is intended for the owner's sole occupancy or occupancy by the owner's family and is not intended for sale or rent, and if the general public does not have access to it. The owner must personally appear and sign the building permit application, and the local permitting agency must hand over a disclosure statement whose statutory text reads in part: You must supervise the construction yourself. You may build or improve a one-family or two-family residence. The building must be for your own use and occupancy. It may not be built for sale or rent. The sale restriction is two years and is a presumption rather than a flat bar: 40-59-260(B) makes proof of sale or rent, or of offering for sale or rent, within two years after completion or issuance of a certificate of occupancy prima facie evidence that the project was undertaken for sale or rent, which forfeits the exemption and exposes the owner to the chapter's penalties. South Carolina then adds a step no other state in this wave has: 40-59-260(E) requires the owner to promptly record a notice with the register of deeds, indexed under the owner's name in the grantor index, stating that the building was constructed by the owner as an unlicensed builder, and failure to record revokes the statutory exemption. The exemption is from the licensing chapter, not from the permit, and 40-59-280 requires the building official to refuse a permit unless the applicant furnishes evidence of licensure, registration, or exemption. Confirm how Greenville County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Greenville County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom Remodel Permit | It depends | Before moving or adding plumbing fixtures, adding circuits or changing walls in a bathroom | ...cost of the project."), plus trade fees: plumbing minimum fee per permit $72.00 and... |
| Deck Permit | It depends | deck area, for decks not more than 30 inches above grade at any point | ...work is priced on the Residential Permit Fees schedule by total valuation: "$1,000... |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Before any electrical work beyond minor repairs, including service upgrades, meter... | Electrical Permit Fees: minimum fee per permit $72.00 |
| EV Charger Permit | It depends | Before installing a hardwired charger or a new 240-volt circuit or receptacle for an... | Electrical Permit Fees: minimum fee per permit $72.00 |
| Fence Permit | It depends | fence height | ...work is priced on the Residential Permit Fees schedule by total valuation: "$1,000... |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Before installing or changing out heating or cooling equipment, adding ductwork, or... | Mechanical Permit Fees: minimum fee per permit $72.00 |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Before adding or relocating plumbing fixtures, replacing concealed pipe, or connecting... | Plumbing Permit Fees: minimum fee per permit $72.00 |
| Pool Permit | It depends | prefabricated swimming pools only | ...work is priced on the Residential Permit Fees schedule by total valuation: "$1,000... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Any size | Flat fee: the Residential Roofing Permit line is $108.00 under Miscellaneous Permit Fees... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure | ...work is priced on the Residential Permit Fees schedule by total valuation: "$1,000... |
| Water Heater Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Permit Fees on the Residential Permit Fees schedule: Gas Water Heater $36.00 and... |
Solar Permit in other South Carolina localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Greenville County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this solar permit page for Greenville County was verified. 2 official sources: greenvillecountysc.gov, greenvillecountysc.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Greenville County Building Safety (Planning and Code Compliance). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Solar Permit requirements across South Carolina localities