Wichita City - Solar Permitting
To install solar on your Wichita home, you'll need to submit installation plans and specifications to the Building Official for a permit, with fees of $40 for up to two site inspections and $15 for each additional inspection. You must hire a licensed and certified solar installer, as unlicensed installation is prohibited; if you disagree with any permitting decision, the Energy Advisory Board can review your appeal.
You must hold a valid certificate or license to install, repair, replace, or alter solar energy systems in Wichita—operating without one is unlawful. Submitting detailed plans and specifications to the Building Official is required, and you should inform customers of the modest inspection fees ($40 for up to two inspections, $15 per additional). Note that Wichita is reviewing its permitting process to streamline requirements for smaller systems, which may simplify future projects.
This permitting program requires licensed contractors to submit solar installation plans to the Building Official and collects modest fees ($40 for two inspections, $15 per additional) to cover review and site inspections. The Energy Advisory Board serves as an appeals mechanism for disputes. As of July 2023, the city is reviewing its unified zoning code to distinguish between small and large-scale systems, with proposed changes to reduce application requirements for smaller installations, though these updates remain under review by the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.
Program details
- Program ID
- 5940
- Last updated
- 8/16/2023
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial residential installers/contractors
- Technologies
- solar water heat solar space heat solar photovoltaics solar pool heating
Program summary
Solar Installation plans, specifications and other data shall be submitted for permit to the Building Official. The fees for solar installation are as follows, $40 for two or less site inspection for final approval and $15 for each additional site inspection. The Energy Advisory Board acts as a board of appeals for the solar installation process. Specific certificates and licenses are required to install, repair, replace and alter solar energy systems and it is unlawful to do so without a certificate or license.
2023 Update
Wichita-Sedgwick County government is currently reviewing the permitting process for Solar Energy Systems. The current unified zoning code does not distinguish solar energy systems by size or scale, meaning that smaller systems need to meet the same requirements as large scale facilities. The proposed updates would align the application requirements with the proposed scale of projects. The updates would distinguish between large and small scale systems, and would lessen the application requirements for small scale solar systems compared to large scale systems.
As of July 13, 2023, these changes are still under review and have not been approved by the full Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- Planning@wichita.gov
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
