You helped cut the red tape to make it easier to go solar
For years, outdated permitting requirements and staffing shortages added months of delays and thousands of dollars to solar and battery projects. Streamlining that process makes it faster and easier for people to go solar. The Solar Access Act (SB 379) was passed into law to help make that happen, and thanks to your efforts, hundreds of cities and counties complied with the law!
What happened
The Solar Access Act was passed in 2022, and it required most cities and counties to have online, automatic, and instantaneous permitting for solar and storage that also includes plan review. Jurisdictions had several paths available and money from the state to help them comply. But many cities and counties hadn’t heard about the law or the available funding, and some jurisdictions were dragging their feet. That’s where you came in.
The difference you made
Thousands of residents and a coalition of more than 60 organizations took action to ask their cities and counties to comply with the law. Solar users like you sent in hundreds of petitions and phone calls, and many spoke at local City Council meetings to ask their local legislators to follow the law.
By the end of 2025, 281 jurisdictions moved to comply with the law as a direct result of your efforts. That’s 78% of all the jurisdictions currently in compliance or piloting to comply!
Expanding the impact
Your work to get cities and counties to follow the law and streamline permitting for rooftop solar and storage projects has inspired other states to follow your lead. Way to show ‘em how it’s done!
Moving forward, the Solar Rights Alliance will continue to look for ways to cut red tape to make it faster, easier, and cheaper to go solar. Thank you for all you do!
