Permits and connecting solar to the grid

Installing the panels is often the quickest part of going solar. The steps before and after, including design, permits, inspection and utility approval, take most of the time. Here is the general process in Canada. Exact rules vary by province, municipality and utility.

The typical steps

1. Site assessment. The installer reviews your roof, shading, electrical panel and recent bills. This may be done remotely using imagery, followed by an in-person visit.
2. Design. The installer lays out the panels, chooses the inverter, and estimates annual production. You should receive a written proposal to review.
3. Contract. You sign once you are comfortable with the design, price and terms.
4. Utility application. Many utilities require an application before installation, such as a connection agreement or net metering application. Some require approval before work starts.
5. Building permit, where required. Some municipalities require a building permit for rooftop solar, often to confirm the roof can carry the load. Others do not.
6. Electrical permit. Solar involves electrical work, so an electrical permit is normally required. In Ontario, this goes through the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA).
7. Installation. Racking, panels, wiring and inverter are installed, usually in one to three days for a typical home.
8. Electrical inspection. An inspector checks the work. In Ontario, ESA inspects and issues a connection authorization.
9. Meter change. Your utility may replace or reprogram your meter so it can record both imported and exported power.
10. Permission to operate. Once the utility confirms, you can switch the system on.

Typical timelines

From signing to switching on, expect anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Common causes of delay include:

• Utility application backlogs.
• Building permit review times.
• Equipment availability.
• Weather, especially in winter.
• Electrical panel upgrades that need extra work.

Ask your installer for a realistic timeline for your area, not a best case.

Who usually handles what

Even when the installer handles paperwork, you are the account holder. Read what you sign and keep copies.

Ontario notes

In Ontario, electrical work must be done by a licensed electrical contractor, and ESA inspects the installation. If you plan to use net metering, you will need an agreement with your local utility. If you plan to take the HRSP rebate, the system must be designed for load displacement and won't use net metering. Confirm the steps with Save on Energy before you start. See net metering vs the rebate.

Other provinces

Most provinces follow a similar path: electrical permit and inspection, plus a utility interconnection process. Programs and export rules differ widely between provinces and utilities. Check your utility's website for its current process for small generation or net metering.

Homeowner's checklist

• Confirm the contractor is licensed for electrical work in your province.
• Ask which permits are required in your municipality and who will get them.
• Ask whether the utility approval is needed before installation.
• Make sure the system is not switched on until the utility gives permission.
• Keep copies of permits, inspection certificates and the utility agreement. You may need them when you sell your home.
• Tell your home insurance provider about the system.

Red flags

Be cautious if an installer suggests skipping permits, switching on before utility approval, or doing the electrical work without a licensed contractor. Unpermitted work can create safety risks, insurance problems and trouble when you sell.

Next step

Start with an honest estimate for your home: check your roof.