SolarAPP+ Review: Pros and Cons

SurgePV publishes this page and is a vendor in this category. SurgePV competes with SolarAPP+, though the two do different jobs. The facts here come from SolarAPP+’s public pages and help center and SurgePV’s pricing page, checked October 2026 (last read 28 October 2026).

What SolarAPP+ does

SolarAPP+ checks home solar and storage plans against building, electrical and fire codes. The vendor says an installer enters the system details, and the tool runs the checks. It says code-compliant applications get a permit and an inspection checklist instantly.

How it works, per the vendor

1. A licensed installer starts a new project and enters the system design details (product page).
2. The tool checks each entry and flags problems with a note, so the installer can fix them (product page).
3. The installer pays and gets the final approval documents. These include an inspection checklist (product page).

In some places the approval documents go into the city’s own permit portal. The help center says the contractor then applies for the permit there (permit fees article). The vendor also says the tool checks the full application again after every revision (revisions article).

Who runs it and where it works

The SolarAPP Foundation, a non-profit, now manages SolarAPP+. The tool was funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and first managed by the National Laboratory of the Rockies, formerly NREL (About page). The vendor’s home page lists “350+ Jurisdictions Served” and “150K+ Permits Issued” (home page).

A jurisdiction is a city or county permit office. Installers can use SolarAPP+ only where the office has adopted it or is in a pilot (help center). The vendor lists every location on a map and table. Use is voluntary, and contractors can still submit the usual way (help center).

Which projects it covers

The help center says SolarAPP+ checks detached one- and two-family homes. It also covers townhomes up to three stories that have a separate way out and their own utility production meter. Accessory buildings and accessory dwelling units (second homes on the same lot) can be included, up to three stories (eligibility article).

The same article lists these limits:

• Service rating of 400 A or less.
• Service disconnects and busbars (the metal bars inside a panel that carry power) rated 225 A or less.
• Systems of 38.4 kW or less that meet certain installation traits.
• Single batteries of 20 kWh or less.
• Total storage of 80 kWh, depending on where the batteries are installed.

The article lists these as outside SolarAPP+ scope: systems installed by homeowners, ground-mounted, multifamily, commercial, community and utility-scale, and ballasted systems. Projects outside scope use the local office’s normal permit process. The vendor says main panel upgrades are now compatible, and a local office can switch that off (help center). It also says it supports only listed racking with a class A fire rating (racking article).

After approval

The checklist includes a simple wiring drawing built from the data the contractor entered (schematic article). The vendor also offers an API, a way for other software to send data to it. It says installers can use it to fill permit fields from their design software (product page).

Price and plans

SolarAPP+ is free for local governments, per the vendor. Installers pay the fees below. They come on top of any fee the local permit office sets, and payment processing fees apply. Quoted from the vendor’s help center, checked October 2026.

The fee page shows “$” and does not name the currency. It was last updated July 6, 2026. The vendor’s installer page says “free (up to 2) revisions”, while the fee page says the first 3 are free. Ask the vendor which one applies.

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

It may suit you if:

• You are a licensed contractor. The vendor says SolarAPP+ is for licensed contractors (home page).
• Your projects are standard home solar or storage, within the size limits above.
• Your city or county is on the vendor’s list.

Look at other routes, or ask the vendor first, if:

• Your project is ground-mounted, multifamily, commercial, community or utility-scale. The vendor lists these as outside scope.
• Your local permit office has not adopted SolarAPP+. Installers cannot use it there.
• You need the utility’s approval to connect. The vendor says installers send interconnection requests separately (help center).
• You expect the tool to take on legal risk. The vendor says liability for code compliance stays with the contractor (help center).

Historic districts and special zoning areas can also block a submission. A local office can route those projects to its normal review (help center).

Compared with SurgePV

SurgePV competes with SolarAPP+, but the two do different jobs. SolarAPP+ is a permit check. SurgePV is design and proposal software.

To learn what SurgePV covers, see solar design software.

Bottom line: who should pick SolarAPP+?

SolarAPP+ fits a licensed installer who permits standard home solar or storage in a place that has adopted it. Look at other routes if your project is ground-mounted, multifamily or commercial, if your permit office has not adopted it, or if you need the utility’s interconnection approval.

To prepare permit drawings, compare the tools in solar permit design software and solar permitting software. If you want to see how SurgePV handles the design side, book a demo or read how the permit steps fit together. Background: what an AHJ is.

Other options

• Solar permitting software list: tools for the permit step.
• Permit design software list: tools that help prepare permit drawings.
• Solar permitting workflow: how the permit steps fit together.

Frequently asked questions

What is SolarAPP+?

SolarAPP+ is an online tool for permits on home solar and energy storage projects. A licensed installer enters the system details, and the tool checks them against building, electrical and fire codes. The vendor says code-compliant applications get a permit instantly. The SolarAPP Foundation, a non-profit, now manages it.

How much does SolarAPP+ cost an installer?

The vendor’s help center lists Solar Permit at $35, Add-on Energy Storage at $30 and Storage Only at $30. The first 3 revisions are free. These fees come on top of any fee your local permit office charges, and payment processing fees apply. Checked October 2026.

Which projects can use SolarAPP+?

The vendor says it checks detached one- and two-family homes and some townhomes, plus accessory buildings. It lists ground-mounted, multifamily, commercial, community, utility-scale and ballasted systems as outside its scope. Those projects use the local permit office’s normal process.

Where is SolarAPP+ available?

Only where the local permit office has adopted it or is in a pilot. The vendor’s home page says it serves 350+ jurisdictions and lists them on a map and in a table. Check your city or county on that list before you plan around it.

Is SolarAPP+ free?

It is free for local governments, per the vendor. Installers pay the fees listed on the vendor’s help center. Use of SolarAPP+ is voluntary, and contractors can still submit the usual way in places that have adopted it.

Does SolarAPP+ handle utility interconnection?

No. The vendor says SolarAPP+ focuses on permits and does not directly affect interconnection steps with the electric utility. Installers send interconnection requests separately. Interconnection is the utility’s approval to connect the system to the grid.

Sources

All pages were read on 28 October 2026. Help center pages were opened in a headless Chrome browser.