Home / Solar cost by city California homeowners who bought their own solar systems reported a median of $4.14 per watt from January 2025 to May 2026, across 58,628 systems in PG&E, SCE and SDG&E territory. The middle half paid $2.90 to $5.53. At the 6.15 kW median size, that is about $25,500.
The tables below give each city's own figure where at least 30 owners reported a cost, and otherwise its county's, its utility area's or the statewide one, always labeled. They are reported costs, not quotes, and no federal credit comes off them for a system finished in 2026. Each city also shows its permit fee against the $450 state limit.
Source: California Distributed Generation Statistics (CPUC), Interconnected Project Sites data set, data through May 31, 2026 , checked September 24, 2026. Municipal utilities such as LADWP and SMUD are not in the data; their cities use the county or statewide figure. How it is counted, and the tax and permit rules every city shares: California Solar Tax and Permit Rules for 2026 .
To sort and filter the permit fees, permit platforms and utilities of all 93 cities, or download them, use the California Solar Cost Index . The average rate your utility charges is on the California utility rate tracker ; for a business property, see commercial solar cost per watt in California .
Alameda County Solar cost pages in Alameda County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Berkeley PG&E Ava Community Energy $5.94/W city, 293 reports $100 Fremont PG&E Ava Community Energy $4.29/W city, 270 reports $133 Livermore PG&E Ava Community Energy $3.77/W city, 231 reports No figure published Oakland PG&E Ava Community Energy $5.45/W city, 468 reports $471.49(above $450) Pleasanton PG&E Ava Community Energy $4.74/W city, 118 reports $250
Butte County Solar cost pages in Butte County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Chico PG&E None recorded $3.56/W city, 498 reports $450
Contra Costa County Solar cost pages in Contra Costa County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Concord PG&E MCE $4.63/W city, 162 reports $450 Danville PG&E MCE $4.23/W city, 149 reports No figure published Richmond PG&E MCE $4.64/W city, 183 reports $450 San Ramon PG&E MCE $2.71/W city, 237 reports $450 Walnut Creek PG&E MCE $4.22/W city, 237 reports $280
El Dorado County Solar cost pages in El Dorado County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee El Dorado Hills PG&E Pioneer Community Energy $4.46/W city, 276 reports No figure published
Fresno County Solar cost pages in Fresno County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Clovis PG&E None recorded $3.03/W city, 681 reports No figure published Fresno PG&E None recorded $3.28/W city, 1,481 reports $333.22
Humboldt County Solar cost pages in Humboldt County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Arcata PG&E Redwood Coast Energy Authority $3.79/W city, 60 reports No figure published
Kern County Solar cost pages in Kern County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Bakersfield PG&E None recorded $3.18/W city, 2,218 reports $187 California City SCE None recorded $2.82/W city, 53 reports No figure published
Los Angeles County Solar cost pages in Los Angeles County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Glendale GWP None recorded $3.51/W county, 3,437 reports No figure published Lakewood SCE None recorded $3.51/W county, 3,437 reports Fee schedule not published in readable form Long Beach SCE None recorded $3.79/W city, 175 reports $386.62 Los Angeles LADWP None recorded $3.51/W county, 3,437 reports No figure published Pasadena PWP None recorded $3.51/W county, 3,437 reports Fee schedule not published in readable form Santa Clarita SCE None recorded $4.00/W city, 43 reports $450
Monterey County Solar cost pages in Monterey County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Marina PG&E Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) $2.71/W city, 218 reports $170 Monterey PG&E Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) $6.12/W city, 53 reports $450 Pacific Grove PG&E Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) $4.30/W county, 729 reports $670(above $450) Salinas PG&E Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) $5.10/W city, 102 reports $367 Seaside PG&E Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) $3.06/W city, 49 reports No figure published
Napa County Solar cost pages in Napa County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Napa PG&E MCE $4.05/W city, 262 reports $472(above $450)
Nevada County Solar cost pages in Nevada County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Grass Valley PG&E Pioneer Community Energy $4.84/W city, 118 reports Only a dated schedule
Orange County Solar cost pages in Orange County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Anaheim APU None recorded $4.02/W county, 2,990 reports Only a dated schedule Huntington Beach SCE None recorded $4.25/W city, 141 reports No figure published Irvine SCE Orange County Power Authority $3.66/W city, 472 reports $679.99(above $450) Mission Viejo SCE; part of the city: SDG&E None recorded $4.63/W city, 134 reports $450 San Clemente SDG&E None recorded $5.04/W city, 168 reports Two figures published Santa Ana SCE None recorded $3.80/W city, 158 reports No figure published
Placer County Solar cost pages in Placer County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Auburn PG&E Pioneer Community Energy $3.60/W city, 207 reports $347 Lincoln PG&E Pioneer Community Energy $2.71/W city, 740 reports $450 Rocklin PG&E Pioneer Community Energy $3.00/W city, 404 reports No figure published Roseville Roseville Electric None recorded $3.06/W county, 1,915 reports $1,349.49(above $450)
Riverside County Solar cost pages in Riverside County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Beaumont SCE None recorded $3.68/W city, 158 reports No figure published Corona City of Corona or SCE None recorded $4.02/W city, 227 reports No figure published Murrieta SCE None recorded $2.88/W city, 62 reports $450 Palm Springs SCE Desert Community Energy $2.83/W city, 115 reports No figure published Riverside RPU None recorded $3.16/W county, 2,968 reports $229 Temecula SCE; part of the city: SDG&E None recorded $4.23/W city, 220 reports $568(above $450) Winchester SCE None recorded $2.93/W city, 499 reports No figure published
Sacramento County Solar cost pages in Sacramento County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Elk Grove SMUD None recorded $4.14/W statewide, 58,628 reports No figure published Rancho Cordova SMUD None recorded $4.14/W statewide, 58,628 reports No figure published Sacramento SMUD None recorded $4.14/W statewide, 58,628 reports $450
San Benito County Solar cost pages in San Benito County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Hollister PG&E Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) $2.71/W city, 364 reports $400
San Bernardino County Solar cost pages in San Bernardino County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Ontario SCE None recorded $4.25/W city, 588 reports No figure published Rancho Cucamonga SCE; part of the city: RCMU None recorded $3.00/W city, 47 reports $173 Victorville SCE; part of the city: Victorville Municipal Utilities Services None recorded $4.47/W city, 150 reports $372 Yucaipa SCE None recorded $4.25/W city, 71 reports No figure published
San Diego County Solar cost pages in San Diego County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Carlsbad SDG&E Clean Energy Alliance $4.58/W city, 523 reports No figure published Chula Vista SDG&E San Diego Community Power $5.24/W city, 722 reports $453(above $450) El Cajon SDG&E None recorded $4.49/W city, 497 reports No figure published Encinitas SDG&E San Diego Community Power $4.57/W city, 445 reports No figure published Escondido SDG&E Clean Energy Alliance $4.54/W city, 657 reports $308 Oceanside SDG&E Clean Energy Alliance $5.51/W city, 598 reports No figure published San Diego SDG&E San Diego Community Power $5.13/W city, 4,007 reports $275.80 San Marcos SDG&E Clean Energy Alliance $4.90/W city, 461 reports $124
San Joaquin County Solar cost pages in San Joaquin County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Manteca PG&E None recorded $2.88/W city, 1,025 reports $378 Stockton PG&E Ava Community Energy $3.39/W city, 728 reports $314 Tracy PG&E Ava Community Energy $4.58/W city, 340 reports $450
San Luis Obispo County Solar cost pages in San Luis Obispo County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee San Luis Obispo PG&E Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) $3.47/W city, 190 reports $332.50
San Mateo County Solar cost pages in San Mateo County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Redwood City PG&E WestLight Energy $5.32/W city, 160 reports $450 San Mateo PG&E WestLight Energy $4.78/W city, 161 reports $450
Santa Barbara County Solar cost pages in Santa Barbara County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Santa Barbara SCE Santa Barbara Clean Energy $3.82/W city, 95 reports $450
Santa Clara County Solar cost pages in Santa Clara County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Cupertino PG&E Silicon Valley Clean Energy $3.74/W city, 197 reports $450 Gilroy PG&E Silicon Valley Clean Energy $4.58/W city, 177 reports $450 Mountain View PG&E Silicon Valley Clean Energy $4.51/W city, 132 reports No figure published San Jose PG&E San José Clean Energy $4.67/W city, 1,219 reports No figure published Santa Clara SVP None recorded $4.58/W county, 3,143 reports $450 Saratoga PG&E Silicon Valley Clean Energy $4.58/W city, 144 reports No figure published Sunnyvale PG&E Silicon Valley Clean Energy $4.40/W city, 317 reports $431.50
Santa Cruz County Solar cost pages in Santa Cruz County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Aptos PG&E Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) $6.38/W city, 73 reports No figure published Santa Cruz PG&E Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) $5.99/W city, 304 reports $360 Watsonville PG&E Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) $5.16/W city, 72 reports No figure published
Shasta County Solar cost pages in Shasta County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Redding REU None recorded $4.00/W county, 299 reports $450
Solano County Solar cost pages in Solano County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Vacaville PG&E None recorded $3.07/W city, 575 reports Fee schedule not published in readable form Vallejo PG&E; part of the city: City of Pittsburg MCE $4.58/W city, 114 reports $450
Sonoma County Solar cost pages in Sonoma County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Petaluma PG&E Sonoma Clean Power $4.62/W city, 151 reports No figure published Santa Rosa PG&E Sonoma Clean Power $5.38/W city, 599 reports No figure published Windsor PG&E Sonoma Clean Power $4.32/W city, 59 reports No figure published
Stanislaus County Solar cost pages in Stanislaus County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Modesto MID; part of the city: TID None recorded $3.32/W county, 240 reports $333
Sutter County Solar cost pages in Sutter County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Yuba City PG&E None recorded $3.12/W city, 292 reports No figure published
Tulare County Solar cost pages in Tulare County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Tulare SCE None recorded $2.47/W city, 204 reports No figure published Visalia SCE None recorded $2.94/W city, 288 reports No figure published
Ventura County Solar cost pages in Ventura County: reported median cost per watt (level and number of reports) and permit fee City Utility CCA Median reported cost Permit fee Camarillo SCE Clean Power Alliance $3.39/W city, 76 reports $450 Thousand Oaks SCE Clean Power Alliance $3.50/W county, 468 reports No figure published Ventura SCE Clean Power Alliance $4.14/W city, 198 reports No figure published
Wider than one city If you are weighing a region rather than a single address, the regional guides cover the utility that dominates it and the cities inside it.
