Solar Panel Cost in Sacramento, CA (2026): $4.14/W State Median

What a solar permit costs in Sacramento

Sacramento's published permit fee for a home rooftop system is $450 (streamlined residential PV permit, up to 15 kW). Above 15 kW: $15 per kW.

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

• What Sacramento publishes: Sacramento's streamlined permit for residential solar is $450 for a system up to 15 kW, plus $15 per kW above 15 kW, effective July 19, 2025 under Resolution 2024-0153. The City offers it as an alternative to its standard value-based building permit and plan review fees, and says it covers building plan review, inspection and application intake.
• How to file: Yes. The City connected SolarAPP+ to its Accela Citizen Access portal in fiscal year 2023/24, so a qualifying residential system can be applied for, paid for and permitted online, and automatically when both SolarAPP+ and City conditions are met.
• Automated permit platform: SolarAPP+

Sources: City of Sacramento, Residential SolarApp+ in support of SB-379 (Information Technology, completed fiscal year 2023/2024), checked September 23, 2026; City of Sacramento, Fees and Charges (open data): Streamlined Permit for Residential & Commercial Solar PV and Solar Water Heater Systems, fee table effective July 19, 2025, checked September 23, 2026; Gov. Code §66015, checked September 24, 2026. Sacramento in the California Solar Cost Index sets this fee beside every other city's.

Solar data for Sacramento: SMUD is not covered

SMUD customers are not in the CPUC data, so nothing in it describes most Sacramento homes. It does list 1 systems connected in 2025 at addresses it records as Sacramento in PG&E territory; those homes buy power from PG&E, not SMUD.

Across California homes served by PG&E, SCE or SDG&E, 45% of 2025 systems were leased or on a PPA, 55% had a battery and the median size was 6.15 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: SMUD

Sacramento is billed by Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). The CPUC's average-rate reports do not cover SMUD; read its own tariff and your bill.

SMUD electricity rates in Sacramento

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) supplies electricity in Sacramento. It sets its own rates, so the CPUC's net billing tariff for PG&E, SCE and SDG&E does not apply to a Sacramento home.

On SMUD's Time-of-Day (5-8 p.m.) Rate, summer prices (June 1 to September 30) are $0.1550 per kWh off-peak, $0.2139 mid-peak and $0.3765 at peak, which is weekdays from 5 to 8 p.m. From October 1 to May 31 they are $0.1285 off-peak and $0.1776 at peak. Every plan adds a System Infrastructure Fixed Charge of $27.00 a month ($17 on the Low Use rate).

SMUD's Solar and Storage Rate option credits energy a solar home sends to the grid at 9.6¢ per kWh, at any hour and in any season. That is well below the 5-8 p.m. peak price, so a Sacramento savings estimate should count how much of the system's output the home uses itself.

Sources: Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Residential rates (current rate charges; System Infrastructure Fixed Charge; Solar and Storage Rate option). Checked September 24, 2026.

Before you sign

In California the middle half of reported costs spans $2.90 to $5.53 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 Sacramento contract follows.