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Solar Panel and Storage Permit with Solar APP+

Approved solar panel installation contractors in the City of Novato are now able to apply for permits online with the help of Solar APP+, a web based portal for residential solar energy system including storage systems. Solar APP+ was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in order to automate the plan review, permitting, and inspection process. This automated system is available only to contractors carrying General (Type B), solar (Type C46) or electrical (Type C10) licenses. Permit agents may not apply on behalf of a contractor. Contractor must have an active City of Novato eTrakit3 account. To register, email: permitcenter@novato.org and request an eTrakit3 contractor account setup.

If you are a licensed solar contractor, you will need to register for a new Solar APP+ account. You may then apply online for plan review and permitting. There are three easy steps, noted below in the "How to Get Started" section, to complete the application.

Non-licensed/owner-builders must apply for a permit through the City's traditional application review process. Applications inconsistent with the checklist are ineligible for Solar APP+ permitting and must also apply through the traditional process.

Solar APP+ is designed to provide a code-compliance check for the majority of residential, roof mounted, new and retrofit photovoltaic systems with and without energy storage systems. To see which systems are eligible, please refer to the Eligibility Checklist. Only projects that conform to this checklist are eligible to use the Solar APP+ portal for automated permitting.

What is Solar APP+

Solar APP+ is an automated online portal for application and instantaneous review of new and retrofit residential rooftop solar and storage systems.

Why use Solar APP+

Obtain a permit without a full plan set.
Lower your costs, Solar APP+ supports three free revisions.
Save time with Solar APP+'s automated plan review process.
Expediates installation with instant City permit issuance.

How to Get Started

Register for Solar APP+ account and apply for pre-approval through the Solar APP+ website.
- Solar APP+ will charge a one-time fee of $25 for processing pre-approval.
Log into City of Novato eTrakit3 contractor account here.
- Under "My Dashboard":
  - Select "Apply/New Permit"
  - Complete Applicant Disclosure
- Under Step 1 Permit Information:
  - Select permit type: Residential Solar Auto Issue
  - Select permit subtype: solar or solar with ESS
  - Enter Solar APP+ approval ID
  - Enter size (kW) of proposed system
  - Enter valuation of ESS storage system, if applicable
    - Valuation is for storage system labor and hardware components only. Exclude value for installation of panels, and other non-ESS hardware.
  - Upload Solar Checklist (provided by Solar APP+) and equipment specification sheets
  - Complete balance of permit application
- Pay all applicable fees online.
- Attach Solar APP+ Inspection Checklist to Building Permit
- Permit will be issued immediately after fees are paid. Construction may begin immediately after issuance.
Approved Solar APP+ documents, the building permit, and inspection card must be printed and be available on site for use by City staff before inspections can be completed. If an inspector arrives on site and these documents are not available, they will not inspect the installation.
- The permit and inspection document can be downloaded from the eTrakit3 portal permit record within one business day of permit issuance.

Schedule an Inspection

Inspections should be scheduled as follows:
- Contractors must obtain and pass a final inspection from Novato Fire Protection District before requesting an inspection from City of Novato Building. To schedule an inspection with Novato Fire, call their Administrative Office at 415-878-2623 Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Inspections require a minimum of 48 hours’ notice.
- Once the project has passed final inspection from Fire, an inspection from City of Novato Building can be scheduled via our automated telephone inspection request line at 415-899-8240.

Solar APP+ Tutorials

City of Novato, CA

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