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

What a solar permit costs in Los Angeles

Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles publishes: LADBS Information Bulletin P/GI 2020-003 (Express Permits) lists rooftop PV systems on one- or two-family dwellings up to 10kW as eligible for Express Permits, stating these are "issued only online at https://dbs.lacity.gov/"; the bulletin does not name a dollar figure for the permit fee.
• How to file: Yes for qualifying residential rooftop PV (≤10kW): per the bulletin, licensed-contractor Express Permits for these systems are issued only online through the LADBS website (dbs.lacity.gov). SolarAPP+ is not named in this bulletin.
• Automated permit platform: None named

Sources: LADBS Information Bulletin P/GI 2020-003, Express Permits (No Plan Check Required), checked September 18, 2026; City of Los Angeles Planning, Van Nuys - North Sherman Oaks Community Plan (a community plan area of the City), checked September 23, 2026; City of Los Angeles Planning, Wilmington - Harbor City Community Plan (a community plan area of the City), checked September 23, 2026; California Energy Commission, Electric Load Serving Entities (IOU & POU) service-territory map, checked September 23, 2026; Gov. Code §66015, checked September 24, 2026. Los Angeles in the California Solar Cost Index sets this fee beside every other city's.

Solar data for Los Angeles: LADWP is not covered

LADWP customers are not in the CPUC data, so nothing in it describes most Los Angeles homes. It does list 267 systems connected in 2025 at addresses it records as Los Angeles in SCE territory; those homes buy power from SCE, not LADWP.

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: LADWP

Los Angeles is billed by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). The CPUC's average-rate reports do not cover LADWP; read its own tariff and your bill.

LADWP electricity rates in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the City's own utility, supplies electricity to most homes in Los Angeles. It is not part of the CPUC's net billing tariff, and its prices change four times a year: base rates were set July 1, 2019, and adjustment factors are updated in January, April, July and October.

On the Standard Residential Rate (R-1A), LADWP's total charge for July through September 2026 is 26.408¢ per kWh in Tier 1, 32.267¢ in Tier 2 and 40.968¢ in Tier 3. For October through December 2026 it is 27.292¢ in Tier 1 and 33.151¢ in Tiers 2 and 3. A monthly Power Access Charge of $2.30, $7.90 or $22.70 is added, depending on the tier.

The Time-of-Use rate (R-1B) has a $12.00 monthly service charge. For July through September 2026 LADWP lists 35.124¢ per kWh for high peak, 29.284¢ for low peak and 26.540¢ for base hours.

LADWP's Net Energy Metering rider, in effect since September 1, 2008, bills a solar customer for the net energy it supplies over the billing period. When a home sends back more than it uses, LADWP calculates a credit at the rate schedule's energy pricing and carries it to later bills; any credit left when service ends is set to zero. A savings estimate for a Los Angeles home should use these LADWP prices, not PG&E's or SCE's.

Sources: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Residential Rates (R-1A Standard Residential; R-1B Time-of-Use; Service Rider NEM). Checked September 24, 2026.

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 Los Angeles contract follows.