12 Facts: Can Solar Companies Use a Private Provider?

Key Takeaways

• Florida solar companies can use licensed private providers (engineers, architects, or building code administrators) for plan review instead of waiting in county queues, with 2025 reforms now requiring local government action within 5 business days for qualifying residential projects.

• Private provider review covers only technical code compliance for solar and electrical work; local building departments retain authority over zoning, floodplain requirements, utility interconnection, and jurisdiction-specific rules that remain separate.

• Contractors need three critical documents to use private providers: written owner authorization, a written agreement with the licensed provider, and a statutory affidavit certifying code compliance—missing any piece can disqualify expedited review.

• Battery storage and solar-plus-storage systems are now explicitly eligible for single-trade expedited review under 2025 reforms, allowing homeowners to install storage alongside solar using the same fast-track 5-day approval pathway.

• Private provider plan review does not eliminate inspection requirements; inspections must still be scheduled separately after approval, and projects involving structural modifications or reroofing may need additional specialized engineering review.

• Many solar companies partner with permitting firms that employ licensed engineers in-house rather than sourcing reviewers project-by-project, ensuring faster turnaround when plan review comments require immediate revisions.

If you run a solar company in Florida, you already know the feeling: your crew is ready, the panels are staged, and the only thing standing between you and a happy homeowner is a permit sitting in a queue somewhere. Good news — you have options, and one of the best-kept secrets in Florida permitting is the private provider route. So let's answer the big question right up front, warmly and clearly: yes, Florida solar companies can absolutely use a private provider for plan review, and thanks to 2025 reforms, it's now easier and faster than ever for qualifying projects.

We wrote this guide because we talk to solar installers every single week who are confused about who can review their plans, how fast that review has to happen, and what paperwork actually makes it legal. Whether you're a solar contractor in Tampa, a homeowner in Bradenton adding battery storage, or a general contractor coordinating a rooftop array in Orlando, this article breaks down exactly how private provider plan review works for solar in Florida — no legal jargon, no runaround, just the facts you need.

What Is a Private Provider, and Why Does It Matter for Solar Permits

A private provider is a licensed building code administrator, architect, or engineer who is authorized to review construction plans for compliance with the Florida Building Code — essentially standing in for the local building department on the review side. Instead of waiting in line behind every other permit application at your county office, you get a qualified professional to review your plans directly, often in a fraction of the time.

This system isn't new. According to Florida legislative analysis, the private-provider framework was created back in 2002 specifically so owners and contractors could hire licensed professionals for alternative plans review and inspections. What is new — and exciting for solar companies — is how the 2025 reforms expanded and sped up this process specifically for solar and energy-storage work.

The Legal Foundation: Florida Statutes Section 553.791

The entire private-provider system lives in Florida Statutes section 553.791. This law allows a property owner, or a contractor acting with the owner's written authorization, to choose private plans review, private inspections, or both — instead of relying solely on the local building department's in-house review team.

Here's the part that matters most for your solar business: the local building department still issues the permit and keeps administrative authority over things like zoning, floodplain requirements, and jurisdiction-specific rules. The private provider handles the technical plan review; the building department handles the rest.

Why 2025 Was a Big Year for Solar Permitting Reform

Florida's 2025 permitting reforms specifically named solar energy and energy-storage installations as eligible for single-trade plans review. That's a meaningful shift. Before this, solar companies sometimes had to navigate ambiguity about whether their projects even qualified for the private-provider fast track.

Now it's explicit. Rooftop solar installations, battery-storage systems, electrical service changes tied to solar, and related single-trade work are recognized categories. This change was covered in detail by industry publications, including PV Magazine's coverage of Florida's rooftop solar permitting reforms, which highlighted how these changes were designed to make solar installations faster and more affordable across the state.

The Expedited Five-Day Review Window

Here's a stat worth celebrating if you install solar for a living: for qualifying single-trade residential applications involving one- or two-family dwellings, Florida law now sets a five-business-day deadline for the local government to act. Compare that to the historical 20-business-day window that applied under the broader private-provider framework, and you can see why solar companies are paying attention.

Who Can Actually Serve as the Private Provider

This is where solar companies sometimes get tripped up. Your sales team or installation crew cannot simply declare themselves the private provider. The reviewer must be a properly licensed building code administrator, architect, or engineer authorized to review the applicable scope of work.

Your solar company can absolutely coordinate the entire process — gathering documents, submitting the application, communicating with the homeowner — but the actual review and the required statutory affidavit must come from that licensed professional. Many solar companies solve this by partnering with a permitting firm that already employs or contracts with licensed engineers in house, so there's no scrambling to find a reviewer project by project.

Steps to Use a Private Provider for Your Solar Project

1. Confirm the project scope qualifies as single-trade solar or energy-storage work under current Florida law.
2. Obtain written authorization from the property owner allowing the contractor to select a private provider.
3. Enter into a written agreement with a licensed private provider — someone authorized for the specific type of review needed.
4. Submit a complete application package, including all required drawings and supporting documentation.
5. Have the private provider complete and submit the statutory affidavit certifying code compliance.
6. Coordinate with the local building department on any remaining zoning, floodplain, or utility-related requirements.
7. Schedule required inspections, since plan review approval does not eliminate inspection requirements.

What Private Provider Review Does — and Doesn't — Cover

It's tempting to think of private-provider review as a magic bypass for everything permitting-related. It isn't quite that simple, and knowing the boundaries will save you headaches down the road.

• Private providers review plans for compliance with the Florida Building Code within their licensed scope — typically the solar and electrical elements of the installation.
• The local building department retains authority over zoning compliance, floodplain requirements, and other jurisdiction-specific rules outside the provider's scope.
• Structural modifications tied to solar mounting, reroofing work, and major electrical service upgrades may require separate structural engineering review.
• Utility interconnection approval is handled separately and isn't part of the plan review process itself.
• Inspections are still required — private-provider review covers the plans, not the finished installation.
• Historic properties or projects in special flood hazard areas may trigger additional review steps beyond the standard private-provider pathway.

Does Using a Private Provider Reduce Permit Fees?

This is a common question, and the honest answer is: it depends. Florida law generally requires a fee reduction reflecting costs the local building department avoids when it isn't performing the review or inspection itself. But the exact calculation depends on the specific statutory language, the type of project, and which services were transferred to the private provider. Always confirm the fee structure with the local jurisdiction before assuming a discount.

SolarAPP+ and Automated Review Tools

Some solar companies ask about automated or software-assisted review systems as an alternative to a licensed private provider. Florida law does permit certain virtual or software-assisted processes for eligible single-trade work, subject to statutory conditions and provider certification. That said, these tools work alongside licensed oversight rather than replacing it entirely — the certification requirement doesn't disappear just because software is involved.

Common Scenarios Where Private Provider Review Shines

We see this play out constantly across our service areas — from Tampa rooftop installs to St. Petersburg battery-storage additions. Solar companies juggling dozens of projects at once can't afford to wait weeks per permit when they're trying to scale. A licensed private provider lets you keep multiple projects moving in parallel instead of bottlenecking through an overloaded county queue.

Real estate professionals and homeowners benefit too. If you're evaluating a property with existing solar in Bradenton or planning an addition in Venice, understanding whether the original installation went through proper private-provider review — or the standard building department process — can matter enormously at closing time.

How 1 Contractor Solutions Fits Into This Picture

This is exactly the kind of work we handle every day. 1 Contractor Solutions is a licensed private provider, which means we can perform plan review ourselves instead of leaving your solar project sitting in a county queue. Our in-house engineering team drafts and seals the plans, so when a reviewer comment comes back, we fix it immediately — no waiting on an outside consultant to call back three days later.

We coordinate everything from plan review coordination to structural engineering for mounting systems, and our MEP engineering team handles the electrical scope tied to solar and battery installations. If you're a solar contractor looking to scale across all 67 Florida counties, our solar contractor services page outlines exactly how we plug into your permitting workflow.

Quick Reference: Eligibility Checklist

Bringing It All Together

So, can solar companies use a private provider for plan review in Florida? Absolutely — and thanks to the 2025 reforms, it's now one of the fastest, most predictable paths to getting your solar and energy-storage projects approved. The key is making sure every piece is in place: the right license, the owner's written authorization, a complete application, and that all-important affidavit.

Whether you're filing in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or Orlando, the process leans on the same statewide statute, but local nuances still exist. That's why so many solar companies choose to partner with a team that already knows the local building departments inside and out, rather than learning the ropes county by county on their own.

We'd love to hear from our community of contractors, homeowners, and real estate pros — follow us on Facebook for permitting updates, or follow us on LinkedIn to stay current on Florida's evolving permitting landscape. And if you want to see how real customers feel about working with us, Visit us on Google — 1 Contractor Solutions to read their stories firsthand.

Ready to Speed Up Your Solar Permitting?

If you're tired of watching solar projects sit in review queues while your crews wait on standby, we're here to help. Our team handles permit facilitation and filing, private provider plan review and inspections, and everything in between — with same-day response and in-house sealed drawings across every Florida county. Ready to get your next solar project moving? Get a free quote and let's talk about how we can keep your permits — and your crews — moving forward.