Builder Solar FAQ: Washington New-Construction Questions Answered

Not automatically, but usually yes in practice. A properly sized 4 to 6 kW array earns up to 4.5 credits under WSEC Table R406.3, which covers most homes’ additional requirement in a single scope. So, the real question is sizing: we calculate exact credit value with PVWatts as part of every WSEC review, before you commit to a system size.

Solar typically runs about $3,900 per credit, versus $4,500 for an efficient envelope, $5,000 for air leakage and HRV upgrades, or $6,000 for a high-efficiency heat pump. Because it does not touch your envelope or mechanical design, it is also usually the easiest option to add late in the plan-set process. See the full solar versus heat pump cost comparison for the complete breakdown.

Yes. WAC Table R406.3 lets you combine options across categories, so a partial solar array paired with a partial envelope or HVAC upgrade is a common approach on tighter roof plans. Just send us the credits you still need after your other selections, and we size the array to close the gap exactly, rather than overbuilding.

It varies by AHJ. Seattle, Bellevue, and Kirkland each handle solar permit review a little differently, and some jurisdictions allow it to ride alongside the building permit while others require a standalone electrical permit. Because this changes project to project, we confirm the exact path with your specific AHJ as part of every plan-set review. Our permitting and AHJ coordination guide covers the full process.

On most projects, close to nothing, since we submit the solar plan set alongside your existing building permit rather than after it. As a result, review happens in parallel with the rest of your plan check instead of adding a new sequential step. Timeline shifts mainly happen when a jurisdiction requests revisions, which we handle directly with the AHJ.

Requirements depend on your AHJ and system size, and we confirm exactly what each jurisdiction expects before submittal. Either way, our licensed electrical team prepares and stamps the single-line and site plan documents as part of every project, so you are not sourcing that separately.

It depends on your project’s serving utility. PSE, Seattle City Light, and SnoPUD each run their own interconnection application, agreement, and net metering paperwork, with different timelines and forms. We manage the correct application directly with whichever utility serves the lot, so nothing falls on your team. Our utility coordination guide breaks down each utility’s process.

Timelines vary by utility and current application volume, so we give you a realistic estimate once we know which utility serves the lot. We submit the interconnection application as soon as design is locked, rather than waiting for inspection, so approval is already moving in parallel with construction.

Before, ideally. We start the interconnection application well ahead of final inspection so it is not the item holding up your certificate of occupancy. If a specific utility’s process requires final inspection sign-off first, we flag that early so it is factored into your closing timeline rather than discovered at the end.

Yes, this is the most common setup for our repeat builder partners. Once we review your standard plans, we set repeatable pricing tiers by system size, so every lot with a similar roof plan gets the same price without a fresh proposal cycle each time. Full detail is in our repeatable solar programs guide.

Pricing tiers stay fixed, but we flag any lot where orientation or shading meaningfully changes production, so you know upfront if a lot needs a slightly larger array to hit the same credit target. That said, most subdivision layouts fall within a narrow enough range that this rarely changes your per-lot cost.

Send us one representative plan set for your standard elevations, along with the total lot count, and we return per-lot pricing tiers you can apply across the subdivision. Individual plan sets only become necessary for lots that deviate meaningfully from your standard plans.

Conduit routing and panel penetrations need to happen alongside rough electrical, before drywall closes up the walls. Our rough-in and trim process guide maps the exact sequencing against a typical framing-to-trim schedule, so your electrician knows precisely when to expect us on site.

Rarely, since electrical conduit routing and roof penetrations occupy different space than HVAC ductwork or plumbing runs. Even so, we coordinate directly with your site superintendent to confirm the day and sequence, so our crew is in and out without adding friction to other trades’ schedules.

Tell us as soon as the change is known, and we re-check the roof plan against the revised framing before rough-in starts. Most late changes, like a moved dormer or an added skylight, only require a minor layout adjustment rather than a full plan-set redo.

Yes. When solar is built into the home rather than sold as an upgrade, buyers typically roll the cost into their primary mortgage instead of financing it separately, which keeps their all-in payment simpler. We are happy to walk your sales team through how to position this during a builder call.

Some HOAs set rules around visible equipment or roof-facing placement, so we review any design guidelines you send us before finalizing layout. In practice, low-profile racking and rear or side-facing roof planes usually satisfy most HOA aesthetic standards without sacrificing production.

We install REC and JA Solar panels with Franklin or Enphase battery backup, depending on the buyer’s needs, and we also handle EV charger and battery backup pre-wiring during the same rough-in visit if you want those offered as buyer options.