Quick Navigation: Solar Installation Timeline in New York
Choosing to go solar is an exciting step for any homeowner once you’ve found the right solar installer. But knowing what to expect after you sign your agreement is just as important. Having a clear understanding of how long each step in the process can take helps set proper expectations and keeps you from feeling left in the dark.
Every home is different, and timelines can vary depending on where you live, who your power company is, what your town requires to obtain a building permit, and several other factors.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown to provide you with all the information you need to have a better understanding of what happens from the moment you approve your system design until your solar system is fully powered on.
Site Assessment & Project Approval
Estimated timeframe: 1-2 weeks
Your solar experience officially begins once you approve your design and sign your installation agreement. During this step, we review your system’s panel layout on your home, confirm details of your payment schedule and discuss all incentives that would apply to your project.
Once everything is approved, our team immediately begins gathering technical details about the property such as roof measurements, electrical data, and utility information. This ensures your project can move swiftly through the next step in our process: Engineering.
At this stage, you’ll also be introduced to your dedicated customer support representative, who will provide a timeline tailored to your unique project. You’ll also receive access to your customer portal, where you can easily track your project’s progress, view updates, and see exactly what stage your installation is in at any time.
Engineering
Estimated timeframe: 2-4 weeks, depending on project complexity
The engineering phase is when the behind-the-scenes work begins. A licensed engineer creates your detailed electrical and structural drawings showing exactly how your system will integrate with your roof and how it will connect to your home’s electrical system following all code requirements.
This “complete engineering packet” includes every detail of your system design, from the number of panels and their wattage to the wiring, inverters, batteries, and power optimizers. It contains all the technical and structural information needed for review and is submitted to your local building department and utility company during the next step.
Permitting & Interconnection
Estimated timeframe: 3-6 weeks
Once engineering is finalized, your project enters the approval phase with your local building department and utility company:
Permitting
As soon as we have your engineering packet in hand, we submit your system design to the local building department for a construction permit. This process ensures your solar installation meets all construction and safety codes.
Interconnection
At the same time as our dedicated permitting team is moving your project along, our utility interconnection team is already submitting all required applications with your power company. This allows your system to connect to the grid and qualify for net metering, so you can earn credit for the excess electricity your panels produce.
Permitting and interconnection times vary by municipality and utility. Both approvals are tracked daily to keep your project moving forward as quickly as possible. As soon as we receive a building permit and approval from your power company, we are ready to schedule your solar panel installation.
Installation
Estimated timeframe: 1-2 days, depending on system size and complexity
Installation day is the most exciting part of going solar. You’ll see our award-winning expert installation team bring your system to life in as little as 6 hours.
A day or so before installation day, your solar equipment will be delivered to your home so it’s ready for our team when they arrive. On the day of installation, our team arrives at the scheduled time. Upon arrival, our team leaders will introduce themselves to you, confirm important details surrounding your solar installation and answer any questions you may have about the process.
Next, our team gets right to work on your solar system installation. They quickly and safely secure all the necessary racking materials to your roof – this is the hardware that your panels will be mounted to. At the same time, our electricians are already working on getting your inverter mounted and connected to your electrical panel. If you ordered a backup battery, a separate team will be working together to get it installed along with the other electrical components of your system.
Next, our roofing team and electricians work together to run a conduit down from the panels and connect to your main electrical panel. Once this is complete, we turn on, test and finally balance your system.
Finally, once we have confirmed the system is working properly. We clean up and leave your property looking better than it was before our arrival. But the work isn’t done yet! We still need to arrange your system’s inspection and receive Permission To Operate (PTO) from your power company.
Inspection
Estimated timeframe: 1-2 weeks
After installation, a third-party inspector visits your home to verify that your system meets all local and state requirements.
We coordinate this inspection and handle all paperwork directly with your utility provider. The process is generally fast, but scheduling constraints due to 3rd parties being required can create a bottleneck in this process. We communicate regularly with these 3rd party inspectors to ensure this process is as seamless as possible.
System Activation (Permission to Operate)
After inspection, your project enters the final stage – Permission to Operate (PTO).
Our team works diligently to ensure we move every project to this important milestone as fast as possible. This process tends to be held up by your power company. After all, they are losing a customer.
We also remind homeowners that your first payment on your solar panels is generally stalled for as much as 90 days to make sure that your panels are fully active before making payments on your system.
When we have received PTO, our team will reach out and walk you through the process of activating your panels and make sure your monitoring application is installed on your phone and linked to your panels.
We recommend that you check this app on a weekly basis and report any irregularities to our team to troubleshoot. Since your panels have a 25-year warranty, this is the beginning of a 25-year commitment our support team has to you and your home.
What the Full Timeline Looks Like
From contract signing to system activation, most homeowners can expect their solar project to take up to 8-12 weeks on average. This can vary a lot depending on where you live and who your power company is.
While some steps like permitting and interconnection are out of any installer’s direct control, working with a NYSERDA Gold-Status Installer like Empire Solar Solutions ensures your project moves as efficiently as possible. We manage every approval, update you at every stage, and coordinate directly with inspectors and utilities so you don’t have to.
When you work with a local installer that understands your town and power company’s unique requirements, the result is a seamless experience that ends with a system designed to perform safely and efficiently for decades.
Final Thoughts
Although installing solar isn’t a “next day installation” type of home upgrade, all our hard work pays off in the end because our work stands the test of time.
Every step in this process is there for a reason: to protect your investment, ensure compliance with all local standards and safety requirements, and deliver the highest long-term performance possible, maximizing your energy savings for years to come.
Our goal is to make your experience simple and stress-free. From your first conversation with our energy advisors to the day your system is turned on, our team handles every detail so you can focus on watching your electric bill drop and your savings grow.
Ready to Start Your Solar Journey?
Click below to schedule your free solar consultation and see exactly how soon you can start producing your own power at a discount.
