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    Los Angeles County · Reported cost

    Solar Panel Cost in Glendale, CA (2026): $3.51/W County Median

    By Updated 8 sources citedGlendale, Los Angeles County

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    Homeowners in Los Angeles County who bought their own solar systems reported a median of $3.51 per watt between January 2025 and May 2026, across 3,437 systems. The middle half paid $2.86 to $4.38 per watt.

    Glendale Water & Power (GWP), Glendale's main utility, is not in the CPUC's interconnection data, which covers only PG&E, SCE and SDG&E. The figure above is the nearest one: Los Angeles County homes those three utilities serve.

    A 6.56 kW system, the median size connected in Los Angeles County in 2025, comes to about $23,000 at that median, or $18,800 to $28,700 across the middle half.

    Those are reported costs, not a quote, and no federal credit comes off a Glendale system finished in 2026: 26 U.S.C. §25D does not cover one whose installation is completed after December 31, 2025 (state and federal rules).

    Median reported cost
    $3.51/W
    Los Angeles County, IOU-served homes, 3,437 systems
    Middle half
    $2.86 to $4.38/W
    25th to 75th percentile
    Typical 6.56 kW system
    $23,000
    6.56 kW × $3.51/W, before any incentive
    Same system, middle half
    $18,800 to $28,700
    size: Los Angeles County, IOU-served homes, 2025 median

    Source: California Distributed Generation Statistics (CPUC), Interconnected Project Sites data set, data through May 31, 2026, checked September 24, 2026. Homeowner-owned, solar-only systems of 1 to 25 kW; leases, PPAs and battery systems are left out (method). The CPUC notes these costs are not verified by the government.

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    What a solar permit costs in Glendale

    Glendale does not publish a dollar figure for a residential solar permit. Whatever it charges, Government Code §66015 limits a city to $450 for a home system up to 15 kW, plus $15 per kW above that, unless it adopts a written finding that its cost is higher.

    • What Glendale publishes: Glendale does not publish its solar permit fee. Under the City's process, Building and Safety reviews the plans after Glendale Water & Power approves the interconnection application and then contacts the contractor for payment, so ask the installer what the City permit line in a quote covers.
    • How to file: Yes, in two steps. The customer or contractor first files the interconnection application in GWP's PowerClerk portal, which GWP says it typically reviews in 3-5 business days; the full plan set then goes to Building and Safety through the Glendale Permits portal for building, electrical and fire review. The California Energy Commission's SB 379 data lists Glendale's platform as a custom one.

    Sources: Glendale Water & Power, Guide for Applying for PV Interconnection and NEM (residential systems under 15 kW CEC-AC), checked September 23, 2026; Glendale Water & Power, Net Energy Metering (NEM) Program (changes effective November 1, 2023 and January 19, 2026; historic NEM compensation rates), checked September 23, 2026; California Energy Commission, Residential Solar Permitting Program data (SB 379 platform status as self-reported by each jurisdiction; data last updated August 3, 2026), checked September 23, 2026; Gov. Code §66015, checked September 24, 2026. Glendale in the California Solar Cost Index sets this fee beside every other city's.

    Solar data for Glendale: GWP is not covered

    GWP customers are not in the CPUC data, so nothing in it describes most Glendale homes.

    Across Los Angeles County homes served by PG&E, SCE or SDG&E, 47% of 2025 systems were leased or on a PPA, 79% had a battery and the median size was 6.56 kW.

    Source: CPUC DG Stats, data through May 31, 2026. Counts are home systems given permission to operate each year; a city means the service city on the application.

    Your utility: GWP

    Glendale is billed by Glendale Water & Power (GWP). The CPUC's average-rate reports do not cover GWP; read its own tariff and your bill.

    Before you compare proposals

    The Glendale project checks that change the decision

    Glendale is served by its own utility, Glendale Water & Power, which still offers net metering, and in Glendale the utility's review comes before the building permit. A quote built on SCE or LADWP rules does not fit a Glendale home.

    Ask the same three questions

    1. Has the installer filed GWP's interconnection application in PowerClerk, and is the 3-5 business day GWP review in the schedule before the permit?
    2. Is the savings estimate built on GWP's net metering and its published compensation rate, not on an SCE or PG&E Solar Billing Plan?
    3. Is the system 10 kW CEC-AC or smaller, which avoids GWP's cap of 110 percent of past usage and allows up to 30 kWh of storage?

    Local checks

    The utility goes first

    The contractor files the interconnection application with GWP in PowerClerk. After GWP's review, typically 3-5 business days, the plan set goes to Building and Safety through the Glendale Permits portal for building, electrical and fire review.

    Net metering, still

    GWP says it continues to offer net energy metering and credits excess generation to the account, though it no longer pays solar incentives. Its published NEM compensation rate for 2025 was $0.05639 per kWh.

    The 10 kW line

    Since November 1, 2023, a system up to 10 kW CEC-AC is exempt from the cap of 110 percent of the past 12 months' usage and can include up to 30 kWh of paired storage. Larger systems are sized against that usage history.

    Meter change after inspection

    After Building and Safety passes the final inspection, GWP reprograms the meter, which it says takes 7-10 working days, and only then emails permission to turn the system on.

    Related decisions

    Local sources and limits
    • Glendale Water & Power — Guide for Applying for PV Interconnection and NEM (residential systems under 15 kW CEC-AC) — verified 2026-09-23. Interconnection application in PowerClerk first, typically reviewed by GWP in 3-5 business days; then the full plan set goes to Building and Safety through the Glendale Permits portal; building, electrical and fire review; meter reprogrammed 7-10 working days after inspection release; shading report waived up to 10 kW CEC-AC. No City fee stated.
    • Glendale Water & Power — Net Energy Metering (NEM) Program — verified 2026-09-23. NEM still available though incentives are no longer offered; since November 1, 2023 systems up to 10 kW CEC-AC are exempt from the 110% historical-usage cap and may add up to 30 kWh of storage; only the January 1, 2026 interconnection agreement accepted from January 19, 2026; NEM compensation rate $0.05639 per kWh for 2025.
    • California Energy Commission — Electric Load Serving Entities (IOU & POU) service-territory layer — verified 2026-09-23. Overlaid on the Census TIGERweb city boundary to see which utility territories fall inside the city. A map layer, not an address lookup: the bill names the utility for a given home.
    • California Energy Commission — Residential Solar Permitting Program data (SB 379) — verified 2026-09-23. Self-reported platform status per jurisdiction, data last updated August 3, 2026; the CEC says it does not certify compliance. Rows used for the Tier 3 cities: Santa Clara, Clovis, Berkeley, Concord, Richmond, San Clemente, Encinitas, San Marcos, Lakewood, Elk Grove, Mission Viejo, Victorville, Tulare, Yucaipa, Rocklin and Grass Valley (SolarAPP+); Glendale and Santa Barbara (custom platform); Saratoga and Vacaville (Symbium); Napa (without a platform); Gilroy, San Ramon, Redding and Yuba City (SolarAPP+); Windsor and Ventura (Symbium); Redwood City and Cupertino (SolarAPP+); Hollister (without a platform, deadline Sept 2024).

    Before you sign

    In Los Angeles County the middle half of reported costs spans $2.86 to $4.38 per watt, and roof, panel work, equipment and contract terms explain most of that gap. California Solar Tax and Permit Rules for 2026 covers them, and the tax, lease and disclosure rules a Glendale contract follows.

    Frequently asked questions

    How much does solar cost in Glendale?

    About $23,000 for a 6.56 kW system, at the $3.51 per watt median that Los Angeles County owners reported (3,437 systems, January 2025 to May 2026; middle half $2.86 to $4.38). Source: CPUC DG Stats. No federal credit applies to a Glendale system finished in 2026.

    What does a solar permit cost in Glendale?

    Glendale states no single current figure (no figure published, checked September 23, 2026); Gov. Code §66015 caps it at $450 up to 15 kW unless the city adopts a written finding.

    Does Glendale Water & Power still offer net metering?

    Yes. GWP says it continues to make net energy metering available and credits excess generation to the account, although it no longer offers solar incentives. Since November 1, 2023, a system up to 10 kW CEC-AC is exempt from GWP's cap of 110 percent of the past 12 months' usage and may be paired with up to 30 kWh of storage. GWP's published NEM compensation rate for 2025 was $0.05639 per kWh. PG&E's and SCE's Solar Billing Plans do not apply to a GWP account.

    Which utility serves Glendale?

    Glendale Water & Power (GWP). It is not covered by the CPUC's average-rate reports; read its own tariff.

    Sources

    The tax, contract and permit rules every California city shares, with their statutes: California Solar Tax and Permit Rules for 2026.

    Glendale in the California Solar Cost IndexIts permit fee, permit platform and utility beside every other city's.Compare solar companies in GlendaleWho installs in Glendale and what each written proposal should include.

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