Colorado Solar Permitting Faces Inefficiencies and Delays, Impacting Adoption Rates

Report: Solar Permitting in Colorado Remains Inefficient

Permitting delays continue to pose significant challenges for solar installers and homeowners looking to adopt solar energy. These delays often stem from outdated and cumbersome permitting processes, which can lead to increased costs. A recent report sheds light on the permitting issues in Colorado, revealing that the state had some of the longest solar permitting timelines in the western U.S. in 2023.

“Too often, needless bureaucracy gets in the way of Coloradans going solar and gaining energy independence,” stated CoPIRG Advocate Kirsten Schatz. “With our abundant sunshine, every rooftop without solar is a wasted opportunity. Installing solar panels on your roof should be as quick, affordable, and hassle-free as possible.”

The report, authored by CoPIRG—a public interest advocacy organization—and Conservation Colorado, titled Removing Permitting Barriers to Home Energy Production in Colorado, delves into the data and provides several examples. In Arapahoe County, the average permitting timeline for residential rooftop solar is between 8 to 10 weeks, compared to a national average of just 9 business days. In certain jurisdictions, such as El Paso County and the Town of Parker, most permits take over three weeks to process. This delay is particularly concerning given that the Colorado Legislature passed a bipartisan bill in 2023 to establish the Streamlined Solar Permitting and Inspection Grant Program.

The SolarApp+ platform has already been successfully implemented in Denver and in several other states. According to data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), projects submitted through this app are 37% less likely to fail final inspections compared to those that follow traditional permitting processes.

A recent analysis by the Climate Solutions Lab at Brown University indicates that permitting red tape in Colorado can add approximately $3,200 to the cost of a typical residential solar system. Instant permitting software platforms like SolarAPP+—developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado—and Symbium significantly reduce processing times for rooftop solar and home battery installations. When a permit application is complete and in compliance with all local and building code requirements, approval is granted immediately.

“Instant permitting platforms such as SolarAPP+ are free resources that standardize and streamline the residential solar permitting process, leading to a better and faster customer experience,” said Meghan Nutting, Executive Vice President for Government and Regulatory Affairs at Sunnova. “This is a win-win for communities because instant permitting alleviates pressure on city and county resources, saving taxpayer time and money while expediting permitting timelines for other permits as well.”

Instant permitting also benefits local governments by allowing staff to focus on more complex projects instead of reviewing straightforward, code-compliant permits. The leading instant permitting platforms are free for local governments and could save their permitting offices approximately 200,000 hours of staff time by 2030.

“Coloradans should have access to affordable solar power without unnecessary barriers. Instant permitting will simplify the transition to solar energy for families, keeping Colorado at the forefront of climate progress and benefiting communities across the state,” remarked Paul Sherman, Climate Campaign Manager at Conservation Colorado.

According to the Climate Solutions Lab analysis, if Colorado implements instant permitting statewide starting in 2026, the additional rooftop solar systems installed by 2030 could save Colorado families $23 million that year and $220 to $255 million annually by 2040. Furthermore, by 2040, the additional solar systems installed due to instant permitting could prevent cumulative greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing more than 750,000 gasoline-powered cars from the road for a year.

“By adopting instant permitting for rooftop solar, we can lower costs for Coloradans, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, save local governments time and money, and make it easier to harness the sun’s abundant energy,” stated State Representative Lesley Smith. “This common-sense technology is a win-win, which is why I’ve introduced House Bill 1096 to initiate instant solar permitting in communities across our state.”