A Guide to PV Plan Sets & Critical Mistakes to Avoid

A solar installer once shared how one missing detail in their solar plan sets delayed a permit review by three weeks and cost them a key client. It’s a common pitfall: treating a PV plan set like paperwork instead of the build-and-inspection roadmap it really is.

Whether you’re working on residential rooftops or larger commercial jobs, strong PV plan sets are critical for solar permitting. In this guide, we’ll break down what goes into permit-ready PV plans, using lessons from GreenLancer’s experience supporting 200,000+ solar projects. You’ll see what reviewers look for, what causes redlines, and how to avoid re-submittals so you can get to install and Permission to Operate (PTO) faster.

Solar plan sets (also called PV plan sets or a solar permit plan set) are the drawings and supporting documents used to design, permit, and install a solar project. They act as the shared reference for installers, engineers, inspectors, utilities, and the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) during plan review.

A complete, permit-ready plan set shows how the system will be built and how it meets code and interconnection rules. That typically includes layout and equipment locations, electrical diagrams, structural details, spec sheets, and the required labels and notes.

A professionally prepared solar plan set helps confirm compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC), local building requirements, and utility interconnection standards. When PV plans are missing key details, the result is usually the same: permit delays, failed inspections, change orders, and extra site visits that burn margin and time.

GreenLancer specializes in providing permit-ready PV plan sets for residential and commercial projects across the U.S. Our licensed engineers and designers are experienced with jurisdiction-specific requirements, helping solar contractors meet deadlines and reduce friction during the solar permitting process.

Create a free GreenLancer account to start ordering PV design, engineering, and PV plans for your next project.

PV plan sets are the permit-ready drawings and documents that show how the system will be built and how it meets code and interconnection requirements. Strong PV plans help reduce solar permit delays, re-submittals, and inspection issues.

A scaled drawing showing the physical layout of the system on the property. This includes:

• Location of solar modules, inverters, disconnects, and meters

• Roof or ground mount placement with setback distances

• Conduit routing and elevation details

• Access pathways per fire code requirements (especially in California and New York)

Single-line and, when needed, three-line diagrams that show:

• Stringing and inverter connections

• AC/DC disconnects, load centers, and point of interconnection

• Grounding and bonding

• Conductor sizing, overcurrent protection, and voltage drop

Engineering details that verify the roof or racking can handle added loads:

• Attachment method and mounting details

• Wind, snow, and dead-load calculations

• Racking specs and fastening patterns

• Jurisdiction-specific structural criteria (wind/seismic zones)

Manufacturer cut sheets for major components:

• Modules (wattage, voltage, fire rating)

• Inverters/optimizers and batteries (if included)

• Racking and mounting hardware

A clear layout of critical equipment and service points:

• Inverters, junction boxes, rapid shutdown devices, meters

• Service panels, main disconnect, and utility connection point

• Required working clearances (NEC 110)

Labeling notes required by NEC 690 and 705, such as:

• AC/DC disconnect placards

• Rapid shutdown labels

• Point-of-interconnection warnings

• Hazard and access signage

The code set and standards the design is based on, including:

• NEC edition used by the jurisdiction

• IRC/IBC as applicable

• Local permitting office amendments and utility requirements

• UL standards for listed equipment

Residential PV plan sets are engineered for rooftop solar systems on single-family homes or small multifamily dwellings. These PV plans focus on smaller system capacities (typically under 25 kW) and include critical design documents such as:

• Roof layout drawings with module placement, azimuth, and tilt

• Structural load calculations tied to local residential code

• NEC wiring diagrams showing stringing, inverter location, and the interconnection method

• Rapid shutdown layout and required labels

• Fire and service access pathways plus required setbacks

Because residential solar permitting varies by the building department, your rooftop PV plans should reflect roof load limits, wind/snow design criteria, rafter spacing, and the specific attachment method. HOA rules and local aesthetic requirements can also affect the final layout and setbacks.

Commercial solar plan sets support installations on offices, schools, farms, and light industrial sites. These projects often involve 3-phase service and more detailed utility interconnection review.

Commercial PV plans commonly include:

• A solar site plan for ground mounts or flat-roof arrays (ballasted or attached)

• Structural documentation for commercial roof assemblies and racking approach

• Electrical line diagrams for multi-inverter systems and service-side/load-side connections

• Equipment schedules for inverters, monitoring, and (if used) storage components

• Interconnection documentation aligned with utility requirements

Commercial submittals typically reference the International Building Code (IBC) and applicable fire code requirements, and many jurisdictions require a PE review or stamp depending on the scope.

Plan sets with energy storage combine PV generation with an ESS (AC-coupled, DC-coupled, or hybrid). A storage-ready plan set usually includes:

• Battery location and equipment layout relative to the inverter and service equipment

• Wiring diagrams showing bidirectional power flow, isolation, and required disconnects

• Backup loads configuration (critical loads panel/subpanel, if applicable)

• Communications notes for battery controls and monitoring

• NEC 706 references and UL 9540/9540A documentation as required

• Clearance, mounting, and ventilation notes based on the listed system

Storage plan sets should clearly call out overcurrent protection, disconnect locations, rapid shutdown considerations, and any interconnection changes when storage is added to an existing PV system.

Solar plan sets keep projects moving because they translate the design into permit-ready solar permit drawings that reviewers, crews, and inspectors can all follow. When a plan set is complete and consistent, you get fewer redlines, fewer change orders, and fewer return trips.

During permitting, the jurisdiction uses your solar permit plan set to verify code compliance and safety before you build. Inspectors often reference the same approved drawings in the field, so mismatches between the install and the plan set can lead to corrections and re-inspection. Strong PV plans reduce delays by clearly documenting the layout, interconnection method, disconnects, labeling, and structural approach upfront.

Good solar plan sets also make the install cleaner. They help your crew confirm conduit routes, equipment locations, stringing assumptions, and working clearances before anyone is on the roof. That means fewer last-minute field decisions, fewer wiring/label issues, and smoother handoffs between design, install, and commissioning.

Installers may see different names for the same core documents inside PV plan sets:

• Solar site plan: the scaled layout showing array placement, equipment locations, setbacks, access paths, and often conduit routing.

• Single-line diagram (SLD) or one-line: the simplified electrical map showing modules/strings, inverter(s), disconnects, service equipment, and the point of interconnection.

• Point of interconnection (POI): where the PV system ties into the electrical system (often a load-side breaker or a supply-side/line-side connection).

• Overcurrent protective device (OCPD): the breaker or fuse protecting a circuit (for example, PV output breaker, fused disconnect, combiner fuses).

• Rapid shutdown (RSD): the method and equipment that quickly reduces voltage in PV conductors on or in a building, plus the required labeling notes.

• Stringing diagram/string plan: how modules are grouped in series/parallel and how strings land on inverter inputs.

• Three-line diagram: a more detailed wiring diagram used when required to show conductors and connections in greater detail.

• Equipment schedule: a table listing module, inverter, optimizer/MLPE, battery (if used), and racking model numbers so cut sheets match what’s drawn.

• Spec sheets/cut sheets: manufacturer documentation showing ratings and listings used during plan review.

• Structural notes/engineering: attachment method and load assumptions (wind/snow) tied to the roof or racking system; may include a PE letter/stamp where required.

• Labels and placards: required signage callouts (disconnects, rapid shutdown, point-of-interconnection, etc.) that inspectors verify during final.

Since 2013, we’ve helped contractors get through plan review, reduce redlines, and avoid resubmittals that push installs back by weeks. Every AHJ is different, but the same issues keep showing up in solar plan sets when permits or interconnection get stuck.

A reviewer catches that the inverter model on the one-line does not match the cut sheet, or the battery shown on the electrical sheet is different from what’s listed in the equipment schedule. Even small mismatches trigger plan review comments and slow down approvals.

A solar site plan (or roof plan) needs more than panel rectangles. Common misses are setbacks, access pathways, equipment locations, conduit runs, and key notes that explain what’s happening. When the layout is vague, reviewers ask questions, and you lose days.

This is a big one for solar permit plan sets. Plan reviewers and utilities want the interconnection method spelled out clearly:

• Load-side vs line-side tap

• Main service details and where you land

• OCPD and conductor sizing

• Disconnects and rapid shutdown notes (when required)If the one-line doesn’t “tell the whole story,” you’ll usually get redlined.

Installers know labels are part of the job, but reviewers still want to see them called out in the solar permit drawings. Missing placards for disconnects, rapid shutdown, and the point of interconnection can lead to corrections during plan review or a failed final.

A plan set might mention the racking, but not show attachment spacing, fastener type, or the assumptions behind the wind/snow loads. If the structural notes do not tie back to the actual mounting method, you’re likely to get corrections or be asked for an engineer letter.

A lot of delays are simple: cut sheets not included, listing info not clear, or the AHJ expects an engineer stamp for structural (and sometimes electrical), and it’s not there. Utilities can also kick back interconnection if the packet doesn’t match their checklist.

Read on to gain answers to some of the top questions related to solar drafting. 

Most PV plan sets include a solar site plan, electrical diagrams (single-line and sometimes three-line), structural notes, spec sheets, and labeling notes. The goal is a complete package that a building department and utility can review without follow-up questions.

Solar drawings” is a broad term for the pages inside the package. A solar permit plan set is the full permit submission, which bundles solar permit drawings with calculations, cut sheets, and required notes.

Not always. Many residential projects pass with a clear single-line diagram, but some jurisdictions and commercial jobs ask for a three-line diagram for more wiring detail.

A solar site plan shows where the array and equipment will be installed, along with setbacks and access paths. If the site plan is vague, it often leads to plan review comments and resubmittals.

Point of interconnection is where the PV system ties into the building’s electrical system, and it should be explicit on the one-line. Your PV plan set should show whether the connection is load-side (breaker) or supply-side/line-side (tap), and identify the service equipment ratings tied to that connection.

An overcurrent protective device is the breaker or fuse protecting a circuit, such as the PV output breaker or fused disconnect. In solar permit drawings, the one-line should show the device type and rating, and it should match conductor sizing and equipment ratings shown elsewhere in the plan set.

Most redlines come from mismatched details, missing cut sheets, unclear interconnection method, or missing label callouts. Tight, consistent PV plans reduce back-and-forth and help you get permits faster.

Newer NEC editions can change what an AHJ expects to see on the one-line and in the notes, especially around rapid shutdown, labeling, and interconnection details. Your solar permit plan set should state which NEC edition the jurisdiction is enforcing and show design choices that match it, so reviewers aren’t guessing.

Your PV plan set should identify the rapid shutdown method and the listed equipment used, plus where the rapid shutdown boundary applies on the roof. Reviewers often look for the rapid shutdown device type, how it is triggered, and required label callouts that match the equipment and diagram.