What knocks a house out of the EZ permit
The size limit is the condition everyone hears about, but the EZ solar standard (form PB_019_F, revised July 2026) has others that matter more for a lot of Philadelphia houses. A project can't use the EZ path if:
- The roof is pitched steeper than 2:12, about a 17% slope. Flat rowhome roofs usually pass this test. Many twins and singles with a real pitch don't.
- The system includes battery storage.
- The roof is framed with engineered trusses, unless a professional engineer writes a letter saying the framing was inspected and can carry the extra load.
- The house is a listed historic property, unless the Historical Commission approves it first.
- The system is larger than 10 kW AC.
The standard also sets limits on the equipment itself: under 5 pounds per square foot, no more than 45 psf at any one point, less than 18 inches above the roof, mounts designed for 115 mph wind, flashed roof mounts on shingle roofs, and a 3-foot maintenance clearance on at least one side. On an EZ job, the electrical contractor signs the form and takes responsibility for the structural side of the rooftop installation.
The electrical limits that can force a bigger job
When the panels tie in on the load side of your main panel, the EZ standard caps inverter output at 3.8 kW AC on a 100-amp service and 7.6 kW AC on a 200-amp service. On a 100-amp service, that is a small system. Ask your installer whether your design needs a different connection or a service upgrade, and whether that changes the permit path or the price. The standard also requires an exterior 60-amp PECO disconnect and a rapid shutdown function to reduce shock hazard for firefighters and other emergency responders.
Paperwork before anyone files
- PECO first. L&I wants a screenshot of your completed PECO interconnection application dashboard showing the address, system size, installation type and status. The city won't take the permit application without it.
- A copy of the contract between you and the licensed electrical contractor.
- For EZ jobs, the signed EZ standard, with “Comply with EZ Standard” chosen as the review type.
- A separate summary of panel and inverter costs, if you want those subtracted from the permit fee.
- Historical Commission approval for historic properties. L&I refuses the application without it.
A separate zoning permit can come up when a support structure or equipment doesn't meet the accessory rules in the Philadelphia Code, so ask about it if anything goes on a new frame, a carport or a garage.
What it costs in city fees
For a one- or two-family home, the filing fee is $25 and counts toward the final fee. The Electrical Permit is $25 per $1,000 of electrical construction cost, and you can subtract the panels and inverter if you submit that cost summary. A non-EZ project adds $200 for the Building Permit for Solar Panels and Structure. Each permit carries a $3 city surcharge and a $4.50 state surcharge. These are city fees only; whatever the installer charges to handle permits is separate.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Does this design qualify for the EZ standard? If not, which condition fails: roof pitch, trusses, battery or size?
- Who checked the roof framing, and will a professional engineer write a letter if it's needed?
- What's my electrical service size, and does this design fit the 3.8 or 7.6 kW inverter limit?
- Is the roof in good enough shape to sit under panels for decades? If it needs work first, who pulls that permit? Our
- rowhome roof permit guide/guides/when-does-a-philadelphia-rowhome-roof-replacement-need-a-permit-21e43900
- covers when a roof job needs its own permit.
- Which licensed electrical inspection agency will you use, and who pays for it?
A quote that only says “permits included” doesn't answer any of these.
Inspections and closeout
L&I's Electrical Permit page requires a Philadelphia-licensed electrical contractor with an active license, current city taxes and insurance on file. You or your agent hire a licensed third-party inspection agency, and inspections have to be scheduled before work starts. Applications with plans are reviewed in 20 business days, plus a day for online pre-processing. When all inspections pass, L&I issues a Certificate of Approval. Keep it with the permit papers for when you sell. You can track the permit and inspections on the city's public tools while the job is open.