Renewable Energy (Solar-Wind-Hydro), Power Production, and Energy Storage Systems

Guidelines for Installations

• Guidelines for Electrical Contractors installing power production systems:
  Licensed Idaho electrical contractors shall be permitted to make solar installations without securing an additional license. This means that if you are a licensed electrical contractor in the state of Idaho you do not need to obtain a Solar Photovoltaic limited electrical license. You can find the actual rules language in the 2018 Electrical Statutes Rules Packet.
• Guidelines for Solar Photovoltaic Limited Electrical Contractors Performing Solar installations
• Guidelines for Home Owners Installing Power Production Systems

Qualified Persons

• Definition of Qualified Persons
• Becoming a Qualified Person:
  If you are looking for a way to increase your knowledge, skills and ability you may find the following resources useful. This is not an all-inclusive list and we are not endorsing any of these. These are simply examples of available training.
  • Mike Holt training
  • Tom Henry Code Classes
  • NABCEP
  • JATC
  • Everblue Training
  • DBS Free Monthly training
  • Idaho trade schools
  • Idaho Approved Electrical CEU Courses
• Homeowner Guidelines

Permitting

• Contractor Electrical Permit Application
• Homeowner Electrical Permit Application
• Calculating Permit Fees
• Cost Per Watt document
• Online Permitting Site (eTRAKiT)

Plans Inspections

• How to Initiate Plans Inspection:
  Email the permit number to electrical.plans@dbs.idaho.gov
• What to Submit for Plans Inspection
• Timeline:
  The Idaho Division of Building Safety performs plans inspection on a first come first serve basis. We strive to conduct plans inspections within ten working days from the time the plans are submitted in Project Dox. To expedite the plans inspection process please do not contact us asking when your plans will be conducted. We receive a high volume of calls and when we are answering this type of question we are not performing plans inspections. We will not be able to give you an accurate answer to this. Plans can take longer or shorter amounts of time to complete and any timeline we tell you will be a guess at best. If your plan has been submitted for more than ten working days please ensure the following actions have taken place.
  1. Check with your electrical contractor who holds the electrical permit to ensure he has submitted the plans for your system.
  2. If you are the person submitting the plans, ensure you have assigned the task to DBS to perform the plans inspection in Project Dox.
  3. If you are sure you have submitted the plans and assigned the task to DBS. Check your emails to ensure you have not received a notice of resubmittal or completion of the plans review process.

  If you have questions about any of the above Project Dox procedures the answers can be found on the Project Dox Videos, Documents and Support page.

• ProjectDox Videos, Documents and Support:
  The Idaho Division of Building Safety utilizes an online plans inspection process. All plans inspection documents are required to be submitted through ProjectDox. You can get started using ProjectDox and find videos, Documentation and support for Project Dox on the DBS ProjectDox Home Page.
• Homeowners Installing Grid Connected Power Production Systems:
  1. Follow “Guidelines for homeowners installing power production systems“.
  2. Purchase plan check permit.
     1. In description, be sure to enter the type of system you are installing i.e. Solar, hydro, or wind power production system.
  3. The following steps must be completed.
     1. You must have a plan review for a grid tied renewable energy system prior to installation of system.
     2. Before the plans receive final approval, you must pay the accrued plan review fees and permit fees covering the actual installation of the system. These fees will be added to your plan review permit. Once you receive the final approved and stamped drawings through Project Dox you may perform the renewable energy installation.
     3. Once the installation is complete you may call for field inspections.
     4. You must have the final approved and stamped drawings available at the installation site for the field inspector.
     5. You will not receive any field inspections of your renewable energy system unless the above steps have been followed.
     6. You will not receive any field inspections of your renewable energy system unless the above steps have been followed.

  If you need further assistance please contact us at 1-800-955-3044.

• Homeowners installing Non-Grid Connected Power Production Systems:
  1. Purchase permit for the installation of the renewable energy system.
  2. Follow Guidelines for Renewable Energy and Power Generating Systems Electrical Plans Inspection.
  3. Once the plan review has been approved you may call for inspections of your renewable energy system. It is important to remember the following.
     1. If you choose to install your system prior to the approval of the submitted plans you may be required to perform costly corrections.
     2. Once you receive the final approved and stamped drawings through Project Dox you may perform the renewable energy installation.
     3. Once the installation is complete you may call for field inspections.
     4. A final inspection of your system will not be performed prior to the approval of the submitted plans.

  You must have the final approved and stamped drawings available at the installation site for the field inspector.

• Submittals

Policies, Procedures, Interpretations and National Electrical Code

• Electrical Inspectors
• Online National Electrical Code
• PV Labeling References
• PVLABELING NEC2017 Section 690 Standard Whitepaper