Before You Apply

Evaluate your existing roof covering. In most cases, you won’t want to install new solar panels on a roof that will need significant repair or replacement within a few years. If the roof is visibly deteriorated, you may be required to obtain a professional condition evaluation or roofing repair permit before you can obtain a permit to install solar panels.

Before you start the online application, you should have:

• Property address
• Property PIN (lookup available on Cook County Assessor website)
• Property owner: name and contact information
• Designated emergency contact
• Basic info about the main building on the property (number of stories, number/type of units)
• Details of the proposed work
• Illinois Distributed Generation Installer certification number
• Required documents (see below)
• Required contractors (see below): exact names or Chicago license numbers
• Required design professional (see below): exact name or Illinois license number

Required Documents

New installation or new configuration

If the scope of work is “new” or “replacement (new configuration),” you must upload:

• Drawings prepared by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer
• Electrical drawing signed by a Chicago-licensed supervising electrician or Illinois-licensed architect, professional engineer, or structural engineer
• Existing condition photograph (at least 1)

The drawings must confirm the structural adequacy of the existing roof, dimension all required setbacks and clearances, and detail the means of attachment for all exterior components of the photovoltaic system. The electrical drawing must show wiring methods, grounding, and bonding that comply with the Chicago Electrical Code.

Reinstallation

If the scope of work is “replacement (same configuration),” you must upload:

• Electrical drawing signed by a Chicago-licensed supervising electrician or Illinois-licensed architect, professional engineer, or structural engineer
• Existing condition photograph (at least 1)

The electrical drawing must show wiring methods, grounding, and bonding that comply with the Chicago Electrical Code. The existing condition photograph(s) must show the existing configuration so that an inspector can confirm there is no change in configuration following with the replacement or reinstalled system.

Work on condominium property

If the work to be permitted is on property that is part of a condominium association (including work in an individually owned condominium unit) you must upload:

• Condominium association approval letter

This letter must briefly describe the work to be performed (example: interior renovations in unit 9A) and be signed by an authorized representative of the condominium association, such a property manager or officer of the association.

Project owned by a government entity

If the work to be permitted in being undertaken by or for a local, state, or federal government entity (such as Chicago Public Schools) you must upload:

• Government ownership or funding letter

If the government entity has a permit fee waiver ordinance, include a copy of that ordinance as part of this upload.

Project receiving construction funding from a government entity

If the work to be permitted or is receiving construction funding from a government entity (such as a Small Business Improvement Fund grant) you must upload:

• Government ownership or funding letter

The letter must be from the government entity providing the construction funding.