Top Permit and Interconnection Challenges in 2025 — And How Installers Can Overcome Them
- Eli Escobedo
- Oct 2, 2025
- 2 min read
Introduction: The Roadblocks Holding Projects Back
Ask any solar installer what slows down projects, and they’ll likely point to the same thing: permits and interconnection approvals. While customers expect fast turnarounds, installers often wait weeks — sometimes months — for approvals. Every delay costs money, ties up crews, and frustrates homeowners.
With new policy shifts and more applications flooding local AHJs (Authorities Having Jurisdiction), it’s never been more important to streamline the permitting process and minimize rejections.
Common Permit & Interconnection Challenges
Inconsistent AHJ RequirementsEvery city, county, and utility seems to want something different. What works in one jurisdiction gets rejected in another.
Incomplete or Inaccurate Site PlansThe #1 reason for permit rejections is missing or incorrect information: wrong measurements, missing labels, or incomplete drawings.
Delays from ResubmissionsEach rejection adds days or weeks. Multiple rejections can push projects into the next season, hurting cash flow and customer trust.
Utility Interconnection BacklogAs more residential solar projects come online, utilities are tightening their review processes, causing long queues.
Why These Delays Hurt Installers
Lost Revenue: Crews sit idle while paperwork circulates.
Customer Frustration: Homeowners lose patience and confidence in the installer.
Higher Costs: Extra admin hours and site visits eat into already tight margins.
In short: permitting isn’t just red tape. It’s one of the biggest bottlenecks in the residential solar business.
The Solution: Better, Permit-Ready Site Plans
While installers can’t change local bureaucracy, they can control what they submit. Accurate, standardized, and professional site plans dramatically reduce rejections.
With the Skyfire Solar App, installers can:
Generate permit-ready site plans instantly, with all necessary labels and measurements.
Reduce human error from manual drawings.
Standardize documentation across jurisdictions.
Submit faster, cutting turnaround times from weeks to days.
The result: fewer rejections, faster approvals, and happier customers.
Real-World Example
An installer in Arizona recently shared that their permit rejection rate dropped from 22% to under 5% after switching to automated site plan generation. That’s fewer delays, less wasted labor, and more projects moving forward on schedule.
Tips for Installers to Stay Ahead
Standardize Templates — don’t reinvent the wheel for each AHJ.
Double-Check Details — dimensions, labels, and notes must be crystal clear.
Submit Digitally When Possible — speeds up review and reduces errors.
Automate What You Can — technology ensures consistency and accuracy every time.
Conclusion: Less Red Tape, More Rooftops
Permitting will always be a challenge in solar. But by reducing mistakes and presenting professional, complete plans, installers can speed up approvals and keep projects moving.
If you’re tired of permit rejections and interconnection delays, it’s time to see how the Skyfire Solar App can streamline your process.