DIY vs. Installer: Which Solar Permit Path Is Right for You?
Not every homeowner buying solar needs the same thing from a permit-design service. Here's how to tell which situation you're actually in — and what that means for what you should order.
Most people assume "solar permit help" is a single product. It isn't. Whether you need a standalone PE-stamped plan set — and how you should think about the cost — depends entirely on which of these three situations you're in.
Situation 1: You're self-installing (true DIY)
You bought your own panels, inverter, and racking — from a kit retailer, direct from a manufacturer, or piecemeal — and you're doing the physical installation yourself or with a handyman/electrician who isn't a licensed solar installer. In this case, you are the entire project: no one else is sourcing your permit set for you, because no one else is involved.
This is who we designed the Starter tier for. You get the full plan set — site plan, electrical SLD, structural calcs, PE stamp — for $600 flat on a residential system up to 20 kW, ready to submit to your AHJ yourself.
Situation 2: You hired an installer, but they don't offer PE stamping
This is more common than most homeowners expect, especially with smaller or newer installation crews. Your installer handles the physical work — racking, panels, wiring — but doesn't have an in-house or contracted PE, or only stamps in a couple of states and yours isn't one of them. You're stuck being the one to source the missing piece so your project doesn't stall.
If this is you: the same Starter/Pro tiers apply, but you'll want to loop your installer in on timing — they'll need the final stamped set before they schedule inspection, and it helps if they can confirm your exact equipment specs (inverter model, panel wattage, racking system) before you request the plan set, so it matches what's actually going on your roof.
Situation 3: You're comparing installers, and permit handling is part of the decision
If you haven't hired anyone yet, "does this installer include PE stamping in their price, or will I need to source it separately?" is a fair question to ask every installer you're getting quotes from. Some bundle it invisibly into their price; some don't offer it at all. Knowing the answer up front avoids a mid-project scramble.
The one thing all three situations have in common: the plan set itself is identical — same PE stamp, same code compliance, same AHJ requirements. What changes is who's coordinating the timeline around it.
Quick decision table
| Your situation | What you need | Who coordinates timing |
|---|---|---|
| Fully self-installing | Standalone stamped plan set | You |
| Installer without in-house PE | Standalone stamped plan set | You + your installer |
| Comparing installers | Ask each one directly | Whoever you hire |
Whichever situation fits, the process from our side is the same: a 5-minute intake, a flat-rate quote in your inbox within hours, and a PE-stamped set in 2–3 business days for residential systems — with unlimited revisions if your AHJ pushes back.