While many jurisdictions have adopted no-touch permitting in recent weeks, San Luis Obispo County has gone a step further. It is now one of the first jurisdictions in California to offer instant permitting for solar.

According to the building department:

“The county’s online E-permitting system has been temporarily modified to accommodate the current COVID-19 shelter-in-place order and to ease permit access for licensed contractors. The zoning restrictions for e-permits has been temporarily lifted. In all zoning classifications a permit for a residential electrical panel change out, water heater, furnace replacement or micro-inverter based photovoltaic system can be obtained as an (instant) E-permit.

“Previously these permits were limited to residential zoning only. The e-permits are located in CSS (Citizen Self Service Portal) with the work classifications for the online PV permits. Please read and answer the questions accurately in the E-permitting process. This system checks the CSLB website for the appropriate contractors license, just as the online submittal process does. Be sure that you have a current contractors license for the type of permit you are attempting to obtain.”

The county advises any contractors with questions to email or call Sylvia Aldana at saldana@co.slo.ca.us or (805) 781-4671.

The Citizen Serve Portal is available here.

News item from CALSSA