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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1104*
HOUSE BILL 1104
M5, L6 6lr1246
By: Delegate Fraser–Hidalgo
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Residential Solar Energy Systems – Local Inspections and Permitting 2
FOR the purpose of altering the definition of “solar permitting software” for purposes of 3
provisions regarding permitting and inspections of residential solar energy systems; 4
altering the date by which certain counties and municipalities must implement 5
certain solar permitting software; requiring, on or before a certain date, certain 6
counties and municipalities to authorize remote inspections of certain residential 7
solar energy systems; prohibiting a county or municipality from requiring a manual 8
review of certain permits and inspections ; prohibiting a county and municipalit y 9
from setting a solar permitting fee for residential solar energy systems that exceeds 10
a certain amount; limiting review of a certain application to a determination 11
regarding health and safety requirements; authorizing the Attorney General to seek 12
judicial enforcement for failure to comply with this Act ; and generally relating to 13
permitting and inspections of residential solar energy systems. 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Local Government 16
Section 1–1320 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2013 Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
Article – Local Government 22
1–1320. 23
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 24
(2) “Administration” means the Maryland Energy Administration. 25
2 HOUSE BILL 1104
(3) “Residential energy storage system” means a system, on a residential 1
customer’s side of the meter, used to store electrical energy, or mechanical, chemical, or 2
thermal energy that was once electrical energy, for use as electrical energy at a later date 3
or in a process that offsets electricity use at peak times. 4
(4) “Residential solar energy system” means any configuration of solar 5
energy devices that collects and distributes solar energy for the purpose of generating 6
electricity and that has a single residential interconnection with the electrical grid. 7
(5) “SOLAR PERMITTING FEE” MEANS A FEE EQUAL TO THE SUM OF 8
ALL CHARGES IMPOSED BY A COUNTY OR MUNIC IPALITY, INCLUDING CHARGES 9
IMPOSED BY A PROVIDER OF SOLAR PERMITTING SOFTWARE, IN CONNECTION WITH 10
AN APPLICATION FOR A RESIDENTIAL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM. 11
(6) “Solar permitting software” means[: 12
(i) the most recent version of a web –based platform, developed by 13
the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, that provides a standard portal for receiving 14
and processing residential solar energy system and residential energy storage system 15
permit information; or 16
(ii) automated software that functions to support the tracking and 17
approval of residential building permits for residential solar energy systems , residential 18
energy storage systems, main electrical panel upgrades, and main electrical panel devices] 19
SOFTWARE OR A COMBINATION OF SOFTWARE THAT: 20
(I) AUTOMATES PLAN REVIE W FOR RESIDENTIAL SO LAR 21
ENERGY SYSTEMS TO TH E MOST RECENT VERSIO N OF THE MARYLAND BUILDING 22
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, ELECTRICAL CODE, AND FIRE PREVENTION CODE, AS 23
APPLICABLE; 24
(II) PRODUCES CODE–COMPLIANT APPROVALS; 25
(III) ISSUES A CODE–COMPLIANT PERMIT; 26
(IV) ACCEPTS ONLINE PAYME NTS FOR ANY PERMITTI NG FEES 27
IMPOSED; AND 28
(V) ISSUES PERMITS OR PE RMIT REVISIONS IMMED IATELY ON 29
RECEIPT OF ONLINE SUBMISSION OF PERMITTING FEE PAYMENTS, IF APPLICABLE. 30
(b) This section applies to all counties and municipalities. 31
HOUSE BILL 1104 3
(c) (1) Subject to subsection [(d)] (E) of this section and except as provided in 1
subsection [(e)] (F) of this section, on or before August 1, [2025] 2027, each county and 2
municipality shall implement solar permitting software for features supporting the 3
tracking and approval of residential building permits for: 4
[(1)] (I) residential solar energy systems; 5
[(2)] (II) residential energy storage systems; 6
[(3)] (III) main electrical panel upgrades; and 7
[(4)] (IV) main electrical panel derates. 8
(2) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D)(1) OF THIS SECTION , ON OR 9
BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2027, EACH COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITY SHALL AUTHORIZE ANY 10
INSPECTION REQUIRED FOR A PROJECT PERMIT TED BY SOLAR PERMITT ING 11
SOFTWARE TO BE CONDUCTED REMOTELY THROUGH: 12
1. RECORDED VIDEO; OR 13
2. PHOTOGRAPH. 14
(II) A REMOTE INSPECTION CO NDUCTED UNDER THIS 15
PARAGRAPH: 16
1. MAY NOT COST EXCEED $100; AND 17
2. SHALL BE COMPLETED W ITHIN THE SAME TIME 18
FRAME AS AN IN–PERSON INSPECTION. 19
(III) A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALI TY MAY NOT REQUIRE R EMOTE 20
INSPECTIONS CONDUCTED UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH TO BE CONDUCTED MORE THAN 21
ONCE UNLESS THE FIRST INSPECTION RESULTED IN A FAILED INSPECTION. 22
(3) A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY MAY NOT REQUIRE MANUAL REVIEW 23
AT ANY TIME DURING THE PERMITTIN G AND INSPECTION PRO CESS FOR PERMITS 24
APPROVED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION. 25
(4) BEGINNING AUGUST 1, 2027, A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALI TY MAY 26
NOT SET A SOLAR PERMITTING FEE THAT EXCEEDS $200 FOR RESIDENTIAL SOLAR 27
ENERGY SYSTEMS. 28
(5) AN INSPECTOR MAY REVIEW CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS THAT 29
ARE PRODUCED BY THE SOLAR PERMITTING SOFTWARE. 30
4 HOUSE BILL 1104
(D) REVIEW OF A PERMIT APPLICATION TO INSTALL A RESIDENTIAL SOLAR 1
ENERGY GENERATING SYSTEM SHALL BE LIMITED TO A DETERMINATION WHETHER 2
THE APPLICATION MEETS ALL HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS UNDER STATE 3
AND LOCAL LAW. 4
[(d)] (E) A county or municipality may not be required to comply with the 5
requirements of subsection (c) of this section if: 6
(1) the county or municipality does not require a permit for: 7
(i) residential solar energy systems; or 8
(ii) residential solar energy systems paired with a residential solar 9
energy storage system; or 10
(2) as determined by the Administration, the automated software is no 11
longer updated or maintained. 12
[(e)] (F) The Administration shall delay the initial implementation or suspend 13
the requirements of subsection (c) of this section if there are insufficient State or federal 14
funds available to the Administration to provide financial support to a county or 15
municipality implementing solar permitting software as defined in subsection (a)(5)(i) of 16
this section. 17
(G) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY SEEK JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT AGAINST 18
A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY THAT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THIS SECTION. 19
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 20
October 1, 2026. 21