California city launches instant online permitting for microinverter-based solar systems

While many jurisdictions have adopted no-touch permitting in recent weeks, San Luis Obispo County has gone a step further. It is now one of the first jurisdictions in California to offer instant permitting for solar. According to the building department: “The county’s online E-permitting system has been temporarily modified to accommodate the current COVID-19 shelter-in-place order and to ease permit access for licensed contractors. The zoning restrictions for e-permits has been temporarily lifted. In all zoning classifications a permit for a residential electrical panel change out, water heater, furnace replacement or micro-inverter based photovoltaic system can be obtained as an (instant) E-permit. “Previously these permits were limited to residential zoning only. The e-permits are located in CSS (Citizen Self Service Portal) with the work classifications for the online PV permits. Please read and answer the questions accurately in the E-permitting process.