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County permits and local guides

Prince George's County solar permits: Pepco and SMECO

Written by the Soleil Energy Corp Team Last updated Editorial guidelines

Inspector in a hard hat looking up at rooftop solar panels on a brick house.

A home solar project in Prince George’s County runs on three separate tracks. The county’s Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) issues the permits and the inspections. Your electric utility, either Pepco or Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), gives permission to operate (PTO). County incentives have their own rules, caps and applications.123

Item What to know Source
Solar inspections Approved third-party inspectors do them, with final certification from an approved electrical inspector. In effect since October 2, 2025. DPIE notice4
Property-tax credit Systems that generate electricity for the home qualify as eligible devices. Funding is capped each year and awarded first-come, first-served. As of October 25, 2026, the county reports a waiting list that runs through fiscal year 2045. Office of Finance3
Solar Energy Grant $10,000 for Pepco customers in an Energy Resiliency Community, $5,000 for other homeowner-owned rooftop systems. Prequalify before installing. The county’s application window was published as ending February 27, 2026, with a possible extension. Department of the Environment56
Automated permitting Maryland’s Local Government Article sets August 1, 2027 for counties to have solar permitting software in place, subject to exceptions and funding. Chapter 353, Acts of 20267

How do you get the solar permit from DPIE?

DPIE issues permits through Momentum, its online system, and uses ePlan (Project Dox) for electronic plan review. Momentum is where applicants start a permit. ePlan is where documents get submitted and agency comments come back.18 Since July 15, 2024, building and trade permits (electrical and mechanical) must be obtained in Momentum.8

Your installer normally files. Your job is to make sure the file is solid before work is scheduled:

  1. Confirm the property address and permitting jurisdiction with DPIE, and find out whether a municipality also has approval authority over your property.
  2. Get the residential submission checklist, and have the installer name the roof-layout, structural and electrical documents your project needs.
  3. Find out who files in Momentum and who answers plan-review comments.
  4. Get the assessed fees and the issued permit before installation is scheduled, and keep the permit number and approved documents.
  5. Identify the approved solar inspector and who sends the final certification to DPIE and the utility.4

On fees, DPIE’s notice effective May 1, 2022 says photovoltaic (PV) permit fees are assessed on a cost-of-construction figure, which it set at $3.00 per watt for residential systems.4 That’s the base DPIE uses to calculate the fee, not the fee itself. Ask DPIE what the assessed fee will be.

One document to skip: DPIE’s February 14, 2025 rooftop PV guideline covers rooftop arrays on commercial buildings and multifamily apartments and condominiums. It isn’t a residential checklist for a single-family home.9

Soleil Energy’s residential solar page describes its assessment, design, installation and support process. The county sets permit requirements and gives the approval. For the state-level picture, see Maryland solar laws.

Third-party inspections: what changed in October 2025

DPIE’s notice says updates to its Third-Party Inspection Program manual took effect October 2, 2025. Residential and commercial solar inspections must be performed by approved third-party inspectors, with final certification from an approved electrical inspector. Structural and fire protection certifications may also be required, depending on the project.4

The notice treats the inspection rule separately from program enrollment. Only commercial solar farms must submit the Statement of Third-Party Inspections (Attachment 1) as part of permitting.4 Check with DPIE before applying that commercial instruction to a house.

A passed county inspection is not permission to switch on. Your utility’s PTO is a separate approval. SMECO’s guide wants the county-approved inspection uploaded with the completion documents, and Pepco’s 2019 Maryland brochure asks for a passed inspection certificate.102 Settle in writing with the installer who hires the approved inspector and who pays the inspection fee.

Pepco or SMECO: whose wires feed your house?

The delivery company on your electric bill decides which interconnection process you follow. SMECO says it serves the southern portion of Prince George’s County, so the county name alone won’t tell you your provider.11 If your bill names another delivery utility, follow that utility’s process. A retail electricity supplier on the bill doesn’t replace the delivery utility’s approval.

Pepco SMECO
Where to apply Contractor files in Pepco’s Connect the Grid Interconnection Portal12 Online through SMECO’s PowerClerk portal2
Level 1 application fee (inverter-based, 20 kilowatts or less) None1314 None2
Added cost-sharing charge under the Maryland Cost Allocation Method (MCAM) Rider MCAM-S charges the interconnection customer $231 per residential interconnection plus a $6.86 administrative charge per application (tariff effective May 1, 2026)13 $1.87 per kilowatt of inverter capacity2
Before construction Written approval, per Pepco’s 2019 Maryland brochure10 SMECO’s guide says not to start construction until Conditional Approval is issued; engineering review can take up to 20 business days2
After installation Contractor completes Application Part 2, Pepco does a final review, then emails PTO to the customer and contractor12 Customer or installer submits the signed Certificate of Completion, the county-approved inspection and smart inverter settings; SMECO’s guide says its final review typically takes about one week2

Who actually pays Pepco’s MCAM-S charges is a contract question. The tariff says the interconnection customer pays them. Pepco’s application page says its system emails an invoice for the application fee to the contractor, and its forms page says the invoice may go to “the contractor or customer,” with MCAM fees on top of the application fee.1214 So the contractor may be billed first, and you pay nothing directly only if the contractor absorbs the charge. Ask whether the $231 and $6.86 are in your contract price.13 The tariff says both are recalculated each program year.13

PTO is the utility’s authorization to run the interconnected system. Keep it with your permit records, and let your installer handle activation after the required approvals. Under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 20.50.09.09C, the utility shall provide a PTO notice within 20 business days of receiving acceptable documents, unless it determines and demonstrates the system cannot be interconnected safely or reliably. Four conditions apply: local electrical approval, a returned certificate of completion, a completed or waived witness test and a signed interconnection agreement.15 The Public Service Commission has proposed amendments to that chapter. The October 16, 2026 Maryland Register, the latest issue posted as of October 25, still lists the proposal as not adopted, and its comment period closed October 19.15 For Pepco’s side in detail, see Pepco solar interconnection and permission to operate.

SMECO’s guide says the customer name and service address must match across every document and match the SMECO account holder. It lists a missing county inspection upload and an unsigned Certificate of Completion among the common causes of delay.2 Check those fields before you submit. For Pepco, use the current Maryland document list, not instructions written for Washington, DC. Pepco’s Maryland Level 1 form is dated December 2018 and is the one currently linked on its forms page.1314

Here’s a hypothetical. A Prince George’s County home’s bill names SMECO. Installation is done and the county inspection has passed, but the inspection record never made it into PowerClerk. The installer uploads it with the completion documents and inverter settings, and the homeowner waits for SMECO’s PTO email before arranging activation.2

Can you get the county tax credit or the Solar Energy Grant?

Maybe, but neither is quick or automatic. Prince George’s County runs two separate programs, each with its own application and its own funding limits. Neither is a federal or state incentive. The table compares them as of October 25, 2026, using the county’s own pages.

Energy Conservation Real Property Tax Credit Solar Energy Grant
Run by Office of Finance, Treasury Division3 Department of the Environment, under Solarize Prince George’s5
Amount Lesser of 50 percent of eligible costs or the listed cap; for leased systems and power purchase agreements, 50 percent or $1,0003 $10,000 for Pepco customers in an Energy Resiliency Community; $5,000 for other homeowner-owned rooftop systems5
How it’s paid Applied to the county portion of the real property tax bill3 After installation, when the contractor submits close-out documents, including the utility’s authorization to operate and the interconnection agreement5
Funding Annual caps of $500,000 (purchased) and $100,000 (leased and PPAs); first-come, first-served, with approved applications carried to later fiscal years if funding runs out. A waiting list currently runs through fiscal year 20453 First-come, first-served; the county’s instructions give a rolling window from November 10, 2025 to February 27, 2026, which may be extended56
Timing rule Eligible costs incurred within the 12 months before your first application3 Prequalification Notice needed before installing; earlier systems don’t qualify5

The tax credit. Finance lists solar systems that generate electricity for the home among eligible devices. The page shows credit caps for purchased systems of $5,000 for a heating system and $1,500 for a hot-water system, and no separate amount for electricity-generating PV, so ask Finance which cap applies to your system.3 Applications need the completed form, proof of installation, documentation of eligible costs and a legal description of the property, plus the executed lease or PPA if there is one. Only one credit may be granted per household per tax year.3

The real obstacle is the queue. The page says demand has produced a waiting list that “extends through Fiscal Year 2045,” that approved applications are funded in the order received, and that applying doesn’t mean the credit arrives right away. Think of it as a long wait, not a quote-day discount, and ask the Treasury Division where a new application would land.3

The grant. You must be a county resident who hasn’t received the grant before and who lives in a single-family residence (a townhouse where you own the roof can count). You can’t already own rooftop solar, and you must own the new system through a cash purchase, loan or financing.5 The county’s instructions, revised December 2025, say applications are accepted on a rolling basis from November 10, 2025 to February 27, 2026, that the deadline may be extended, and that awards are limited.6 The Solarize page shows no remaining-funds figure and no extension notice. Before you plan around the grant, call the Department of the Environment and ask whether it is taking new applications.5

The county also requires that your contractor appear on the Maryland Solar Access Program (MSAP) Participating Contractor List, which the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) publishes.516 Ask any installer whether it is on the program’s contractor list. For the state program itself, see the Maryland Solar Access Program, and for the full list of incentives, Maryland solar incentives.

Is faster, automated permitting coming?

Eventually. Maryland’s Local Government Article, section 1-1320, as amended in 2026, requires every county and municipality to have solar permitting software by August 1, 2027, unless an exception applies or state funding falls short.7 Projects permitted through that software are to get inspections within an average of 5 business days after a properly completed request.7

The same law caps the fee. Starting that day, a permit fee for software-issued permits on residential rooftop systems can’t exceed $500, plus any third-party payment processing charge.7 The size limit is unsettled. The Department of Legislative Services describes it as systems under 20 kilowatts (AC inverter rating),7 but the enrolled Chapter 353 prints both a 20-kilowatt and a 30-kilowatt version of the text.7 Confirm with the county which applies.

DPIE already has a SolarAPP+ page. As of October 25, 2026, it describes SolarAPP+ as an automated platform for standard residential rooftop solar and energy storage, and the steps for the SolarAPP+ platform and the Momentum account were still marked “Coming soon.”17 Check that page for current status. When your installer is ready to file, ask DPIE whether your project can use the automated route and which standard route applies if not.

Separately, the same law requires a non-municipal electric company to do the meter disconnection and reconnection a residential solar connection needs within 5 business days of a properly completed request. Section 4 of the Act took effect July 1, 2026.7 A permit-processing target is not a promise of a finished installation or a PTO date.

If you live in Bowie, Upper Marlboro, Laurel or College Park, bring your exact address and electric bill to the first conversation. Soleil lists those communities on its service-area page. Confirm permitting authority and utility service for your property before you pick an application path. For general questions, see the solar FAQ.

What should you have in writing before work starts?

Get three answers in writing: which utility serves your address, what DPIE needs for the permit and inspections, and whether you’re counting on a county incentive that requires prequalification. Then keep every approval, from the permit to the PTO email, in one folder.

Bring your electric bill, roof information and any DPIE correspondence to a consultation. Book a free consultation or call (301) 953-4140.

Solar savings and incentive eligibility depend on your roof, your usage, your utility, and your tax situation. Incentive programs change and some have limited funding. We are not tax advisors — we will review your bill with you and tell you what you may qualify for. Confirm any tax credit with a qualified tax professional.

Program rules decide who qualifies. Ask any installer whether it is on the program’s contractor list.

Sources (17)

  1. Prince George’s County DPIE, “Online Permit Services,” current page (undated), read October 25, 2026. https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/permitting-inspections-and-enforcement/permits/online-permit-services ↩ ↩2

  2. SMECO, “Solar Interconnection Guide,” PDF last modified August 20, 2026 (per its file properties), read October 25, 2026; and SMECO, “Solar & Net Metering,” current page (undated), read October 25, 2026. https://www.smeco.coop/wp-content/uploads/interconnection-procedures.pdf and https://www.smeco.coop/services/solar-net-metering/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  3. Prince George’s County Office of Finance, “Alternative Energy” (Energy Conservation Real Property Tax Credit), current page (undated), read October 25, 2026; it states the waiting list “extends through Fiscal Year 2045.” https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/finance/property-tax-credits/residential/alternative-energy ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  4. Prince George’s County DPIE, “Permits Notices & Alerts” (TPIP solar notice effective October 2, 2025; photovoltaic fee notice effective May 1, 2022); current page, read October 25, 2026. https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/permitting-inspections-and-enforcement/permits/permits-notices-alerts ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  5. Prince George’s County Department of the Environment, “Solarize Prince George’s” (Solar Energy Grant eligibility, amounts, contractor requirement and steps), current page (undated), read October 25, 2026. https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/environment/climate-and-energy/climate-programs-and-initiatives/clean-energy/solarize-prince-georges ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  6. Prince George’s County Department of the Environment, “Prince George’s County - Solar Energy Grant - Instructions & Application,” PDF dated December 16, 2025 (file name), “At A Glance” deadline paragraph and first-come, first-served terms; PDF read October 25, 2026. https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/default/files/media-document/Prince%20George%27s%20County%20-%20Solar%20Energy%20Grant%20-%20Instructions%20%26%20Application_20251216.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  7. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Acts of 2026 (House Bill 1532), Local Government Article section 1-1320(c) through (f), signed May 12, 2026; Section 22 sets July 1, 2026 effective date for Section 4; PDF read October 25, 2026. The enrolled chapter prints two versions of section 1-1320(c): the Section 4 text limits the $500 permit fee to residential rooftop systems of less than 20 kilowatts (AC inverter rating), and a later text (second Act Section 3, effective July 1, 2026 under its Section 12) says less than 30 kilowatts; the Department of Legislative Services fiscal note describes 20 kilowatts. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  8. Prince George’s County DPIE, “Online Permit Services” (Momentum and ePlan description; July 15, 2024 transition notice), current page (undated), read October 25, 2026. https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/permitting-inspections-and-enforcement/permits/online-permit-services ↩ ↩2

  9. Prince George’s County DPIE, “Guidelines for Permitting Rooftop Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Array Systems,” dated February 14, 2025, introductory scope paragraph; PDF read October 25, 2026. https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/sites/default/files/DPIE-Guidelines-for-Permitting-Rooftop-PV-Solar-Array-Systems-PDF.pdf ↩

  10. Pepco, “Connecting Solar Energy Systems” (Maryland brochure), copyright 2019; PDF read October 25, 2026. https://azure-na-assets.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltbb7c204688a1a6a8/bltf4dfd05ea464b5fe/64e85682b5c7fa000d42aa35/Pepco_Interconnection_Brochure_MD_FINAL-HiRes.pdf ↩ ↩2

  11. SMECO, “Service Area,” current page (undated), read October 25, 2026. https://www.smeco.coop/about/service-area/ ↩

  12. Pepco, “Interconnection Application Process,” current page (undated; it loads its content with JavaScript), read October 25, 2026; it says the system “calculates and sends contractor an invoice for the application fee.” https://www.pepco.com/SmartEnergy/MyGreenPowerConnection/Pages/HowtoApply.aspx ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  13. Pepco, Maryland Electric Tariff, Rider MCAM-S (pages 64 to 64.2) and Small Generator Interconnection Standard (page 65), issued and effective May 1, 2026; PDF read October 25, 2026. https://www.pepco.com/cdn/assets/v3/assets/bltbb7c204688a1a6a8/blte8a580e4cc79e2c4/6abad89015d5b7d18eb100f3/9232_AND_9761_Pepco_MD_CURRENT_CLEAN_Admin_Ch_.pdf?branch=prod_alias ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  14. Pepco, “Maryland Applications and Forms,” current page (undated), read October 25, 2026; says an invoice “is then emailed to the contractor or customer,” that “MCAM fees are in addition” to the listed fees, and links the Level 1 form dated December 2018. https://www.pepco.com/smart-energy/my-green-power-connection/developers-contractors/applying-for-interconnection/maryland-applications-and-forms ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  15. Code of Maryland Regulations 20.50.09.09, “Level 1 Review,” Library of Maryland Regulations, current text read October 25, 2026; Maryland Register, Volume 53, Issue 21, October 16, 2026, Table of Pending Proposals (lists the PSC proposal published September 18, 2026 at 53:19 Md. R. 953; states none of the listed proposals has been adopted; the proposal accepted comments through October 19, 2026), read October 25, 2026. No later Register issue was posted on October 25. https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/20.50.09.09 and https://dsd.maryland.gov/mdrissues/5321/assembled.aspx ↩ ↩2

  16. Maryland Energy Administration, “Maryland Solar Access Program,” current page (undated); lists the FY27 MSAP Participating Contractor List, read October 25, 2026. https://energy.maryland.gov/residential/Pages/incentives/Maryland-Solar-Access-Program.aspx ↩

  17. Prince George’s County DPIE, “Solar Automated Permit Processing Plus (SolarAPP+),” current page (undated), read October 25, 2026; both the SolarAPP+ platform link and the Momentum step are still marked “Coming soon.” https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/permitting-inspections-and-enforcement/permits/solar-automated-permit-processing-plus-solarapp ↩

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