Knowledge Base

A Building Permit is required for the construction, alteration, moving, repair, and modification, demolition, in whole or in part of the change of any use of any building or structure. All Building Permit applications for installations of solar panels shall be expedited by the Department of Engineering Services. Applications for "standard installations"* on residential and legal accessory structures on residential property shall be determined within fourteen (14) business days of filing a completed application.

The following instructions outline the procedures an requirements for obtaining a permit to install Photo-Voltaic (PV) array solar panels on a residential dwelling:

1. Please review Requirement and Guidelines for Filing Applications for general requirements. 
2. Two (2) completed Building Permit Application (87-01) is required and solar energy system Fast Track Solar (87-05) application.
3. Four (4) sets of plans indicting the location of panels must be submitted.
4. An electrical inspection is required. The Town of Huntington does not conduct electrical inspections. Please see list of Authorized Electrical Inspection Agencies.
5. A Certificate of Worker's Compensation (use form C-105.2 or U-26.3 as applicable).
6. Copy of Suffolk County Home Improvement License Photo ID.
7. One (1) copy of a recent tax bill, showing Section, Block, and Lot.
8. Design professional letter stating roof system can handle proposed load and a letter from a Professional Engineer which certifies that the installation will withstand sustained winds of 125 mph.
9. There are also Building Zone Ordinance requirements for ground-mounted systems. Building Zone Ordinance Codes are listed in the Huntington Town Code. 
10. Requirements of the New York State Building Code must also be met. 
11. The application fee is $60 for "standard installation" solar permits as per Chapter 157 (Public Benefit Incentives), Article III (Solar Energy System Fast Track Permit Process), §157-14 (Fees) of the Huntington Town Code. The application fee is $100 for solar permits that do not meet the definition of "standard installation". All solar permits require an additional Certificate of Occupancy fee of $50.
12. Applications will be fast-tracked.

*As per Huntington Town Code, the term "standard installation" shall mean, those installations that meet the following criteria, and any subsequent amendment thereto:

1. Are not subject to architectural review or review by the Huntington Historic Preservation Commission;
2. Are proposed for installation on a roof with a single layer of roof covering;
   
3. Are to be flush-mounted parallel to the roof surface and no more than six (6) inches above the surface;
4. Have an eighteen (18) inch clearing at one side of the roof ridge and an eighteen (18) inch clearing path to the ridge;
5. Add a gravity roof load of no more than five (5) pounds per square foot for photovoltaic (PV) and six (6) pounds per square foot for residential solar hot water (RSHW);
6. Be installed by contractors who are participating NY-Sun solar electric installers;
7. Use PV panels that have been certified by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory as meeting the requirements of the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Standard 1703 and inverters must be on a list of New York State Public Service Commission type-tested inverters which are tested by UL or other nationally-recognized laboratories to conform with UL 1741;
8. Use RSHW equipment that has been certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation under its OG-100 standard for solar collectors;
9. Use other equipment such as modules, combiner boxes, and a mounting system that has been approved for public use;
10. Be in full compliance with all current National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements. 

Applications and Payments related to Permits and CO’s can be sent via express or regular mail to:

Town Hall
100 Main Street
Huntington, NY 11743
ATTN: Building & Housing Room 115

- OR -

They can be dropped off in-person at the Building & Housing Department in Town Hall (Room 115).

Payment of Fees can be made in-person or over the phone by credit card.