Ismael Alonzo, a solar installer for AltSys Solar, Inc., fastens new solar panels to the roof of a garage behind a southwest Fresno home in this 2017 file photo. By David Castellon

The City of Fresno is offering a new online solar power permitting platform for single-family and duplex projects.

The city’s planning and development department has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to launch SolarAPP+, a plan review software that processes compliance checks and issues building permit approvals for eligible rooftop solar systems.

Having tested the platform, the City of Fresno is now providing this option to process solar photovoltaic applications as “express permits,” eliminating the need for plan review.

Licensed contractors that register as an installer with SolarAPP+ submit their project details through the tool.  The software then quickly reviews the information and returns a confirmation to the contractor.

The contractor then uploads the confirmation to the city’s online Accela Citizens Access (ACA) electronic permitting system, proof that the solar project will meet codes. A solar permit is then issued in real time.

The SolarAPP+ platform will save customers time in the permitting process and safely brings important projects to the market quicker.

To complete an application on the SolarAPP+ website at https://solarapp.nrel.gov/login