Solar Panel Cost in Monterey, CA (2026): $6.12/W Reported

Monterey homeowners who bought their own solar systems reported a median of $6.12 per watt between January 2025 and May 2026, across 53 systems. The middle half paid $4.31 to $8.43 per watt.

A 5.6 kW system, the median size connected in Monterey in 2025, comes to about $34,300 at that median, or $24,100 to $47,200 across the middle half.

Those are reported costs, not a quote, and no federal credit comes off a Monterey 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: $6.12/W; Monterey addresses, 53 systems
Middle half: $4.31 to $8.43/W; 25th to 75th percentile
Typical 5.6 kW system: $34,300; 5.6 kW × $6.12/W, before any incentive
Same system, middle half: $24,100 to $47,200; size: Monterey addresses, 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 Monterey

Monterey's published permit fee for a home rooftop system is $450 (residential solar/PV installation permit, under 10 kW).

That is exactly the $450 limit that Government Code §66015 sets for a home system up to 15 kW.

What Monterey publishes: Monterey's Master Fee Schedule for fiscal year 2026/2027, effective July 1, 2026, lists a residential solar/PV installation permit under 10 kW at $450, noting that the State sets residential solar permit fees for 10 kW and under. It also exempts solar arrays from architectural review, historic preservation, use permit and variance fees, and adds a 2.9 percent merchant service fee to card payments. The City's permit portal calculates the fee as the application is completed.
How to file: Yes. Since January 7, 2026, solar PV permits can be filed through the City's online portal (mymontereyportal.org), which identifies the reviews and calculates the fees from the applicant's answers. The City's page does not name SolarAPP+, though the California Energy Commission's SB 379 data lists Monterey's platform as SolarAPP+.
Automated permit platform: SolarAPP+

Sources: City of Monterey, Building and Safety Services, checked September 23, 2026; City of Monterey, Master Fee Schedule, fiscal year 2026/2027, effective July 1, 2026 (Residential Solar/PV Installation Permit), checked September 23, 2026; City of Monterey, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems Expedited Submittal Checklist (rev. 12/30/2024), checked September 23, 2026; County of Monterey, SolarApp+ for Solar Installers, 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. Monterey in the California Solar Cost Index sets this fee beside every other city's.

Solar in Monterey: installs, leases and batteries

Home solar systems connected at Monterey addresses: 57 in 2021, 78 in 2022, 126 in 2023, 87 in 2024 and 82 in 2025. So connections peaked in 2023 and 2025 ran 35% below that peak. Another 31 were connected from January to May 2026.

Of the 82 systems connected in Monterey in 2025, 27% were leased or on a PPA, so a solar company owns them, and 73% belonged to the homeowner. 45% had a battery, less often than the 55% statewide. The median Monterey system was 5.6 kW, and 23 companies connected at least one.

Monterey beside Monterey County and Statewide, 2025
	Monterey	Monterey County	Statewide
Systems connected in 2025	82	1,497	145,404
Leased or on a PPA	27%	49%	45%
With a battery	45%	50%	55%
Median system size	5.6 kW	4.54 kW	6.15 kW
Median reported cost	$6.12/W (53)	$4.30/W (729)	$4.14/W (58,628)
Companies connecting systems	23	116	2,475

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: PG&E

Monterey is billed by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). PG&E's average residential rate is 33.7¢/kWh (June 2026 (unchanged since March 2026); rate tracker).

Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) supplies generation for many Monterey addresses while PG&E delivers and bills; your bill shows which. Source: Central Coast Community Energy, Implementation Plan Addendum No. 5 (May 2023): member agencies.

Before you compare proposals

The Monterey project checks that change the decision

Monterey charges the state-set $450 for a home system under 10 kW and waives its architectural and historic review fees for solar arrays, so a historic-district address does not add City review fees.

Ask the same three questions

Is the system under 10 kW, the size Monterey's expedited checklist and $450 fee are written for?
Does the plan set include the roof-framing statement, and the smoke and carbon monoxide detector affidavit, that the City's checklist requires?
If equipment goes inside a garage, does the quote include any protective bollards the City may require?

Local checks

Solar skips the review fees

Monterey's 2026/2027 fee schedule exempts solar arrays from architectural review, historic preservation, use permit and variance fees, and adds a 2.9 percent merchant fee if you pay by card.

A new portal since January 2026

Since January 7, 2026, solar PV permits can be filed through mymontereyportal.org, which works out the required reviews and fees from the application's answers. The City's page does not name SolarAPP+; the CEC's SB 379 data lists Monterey's platform as SolarAPP+.

What the City's checklist asks for

For a system under 10 kW the City wants a roof-framing statement (full engineering for ballasted systems), a smoke and carbon monoxide detector affidavit, and a separate checklist for battery storage. Equipment inside a garage may need protective bollards.

3CE's December true-up

Central Coast Community Energy, which counts the City of Monterey among its members, trues up generation every December; residential customers owed $200 or more can ask for a check within 45 days of the statement.

Related decisions

Local sources and limits

City of Monterey — Building and Safety Services — verified 2026-09-23. From January 7, 2026 permits including solar PV can be filed at mymontereyportal.org, which identifies required reviews and calculates fees; a Solar Checklist is required.
City of Monterey — Master Fee Schedule FY 2026/2027 (effective July 1, 2026) — verified 2026-09-23. Residential Solar/PV Installation Permit (under 10 kW) $450, fee set by the State; solar arrays exempt from architectural review, historic preservation, use permit and variance fees; 2.9% merchant service fee on card payments.
City of Monterey — Solar PV Expedited Submittal Checklist (rev. 12/30/2024) — verified 2026-09-23. For residential PV under 10 kW; smoke and carbon monoxide detector affidavit; statement or engineering that roof framing carries the load (ballasted systems need full engineering); equipment inside a garage may need protective bollards; separate checklist for ESS.
Central Coast Community Energy — Implementation Plan Addendum No. 5 (May 2023) — verified 2026-09-23. Program launched March 1, 2018 to initial members including the counties of Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito and the cities of Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Salinas, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel and Seaside; the member list includes the City of Monterey, City of San Luis Obispo and City of Santa Cruz.
Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) — Solar Billing Plan — verified 2026-09-23. Exports credited at 3CE hourly Energy Export Credit rates; CARE/FERA adder of $0.00396 per kWh; generation true-up every December; residential customers with at least $200 of Net Surplus Compensation may request a check within 45 days of the true-up statement; separate delivery true-up with PG&E or SCE.
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: Chico (deadline Sept 2023) and Arcata (deadline Sept 2024), both without a platform; Pasadena, Anaheim, San Jose and Tracy (custom platform); Santa Clarita, Vallejo, Corona and Ontario (Symbium); Escondido, Monterey, Modesto, Mountain View and Huntington Beach (SolarAPP+).

Before you sign

In Monterey the middle half of reported costs spans $4.31 to $8.43 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 Monterey contract follows.

Frequently asked questions

How much does solar cost in Monterey?

About $34,300 for a 5.6 kW system, at the $6.12 per watt median that Monterey owners reported (53 systems, January 2025 to May 2026; middle half $4.31 to $8.43). Source: CPUC DG Stats. No federal credit applies to a Monterey system finished in 2026.

What does a solar permit cost in Monterey?

$450 for a home rooftop system on Monterey's published schedule (checked September 23, 2026); the state limit is $450 up to 15 kW under Gov. Code §66015.

How much does solar panel installation cost in Monterey County?

No public source prices an installation for the county. What varies by address is who permits the work and what they charge. Inside the City of Monterey the residential solar permit under 10 kW is $450 in the 2026/2027 fee schedule, with solar arrays exempt from the City's architectural and historic review fees. The County of Monterey permits the homes under its jurisdiction and runs its own SolarAPP+ route through its Citizen Access portal. Central Coast Community Energy counts the City and the County of Monterey among its members, with PG&E delivering the power and sending the bill.

Which utility serves Monterey?

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). Its average residential rate is 33.7¢/kWh, as of June 2026 (unchanged since March 2026).

Sources

California Distributed Generation Statistics (CPUC), Interconnected Project Sites data set, data through May 31, 2026 — checked September 24, 2026
CPUC, California Solar Consumer Protection Guide — checked September 24, 2026
26 U.S.C. §25D(h) and (e)(8)(A), residential clean energy credit — checked September 24, 2026
Monterey solar permitting — City of Monterey, Building and Safety Services — checked September 23, 2026
City of Monterey, Master Fee Schedule, fiscal year 2026/2027, effective July 1, 2026 (Residential Solar/PV Installation Permit) — checked September 23, 2026
City of Monterey, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems Expedited Submittal Checklist (rev. 12/30/2024) — checked September 23, 2026
County of Monterey, SolarApp+ for Solar Installers — 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
California Government Code §66015(a), residential solar permit fees — checked September 24, 2026
Central Coast Community Energy, Implementation Plan Addendum No. 5 (May 2023): member agencies — checked September 23, 2026
PG&E average residential rate — CPUC Public Advocates Office, Q2 2026 Electric Rates Report, p.8, 20 — checked November 9, 2026

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