Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Instant Permitting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee adopts mandate for instant permitting of home power installations
Summary
A strike‑everything amendment to House Bill 20‑33 was adopted requiring municipalities and counties to adopt instant permitting for most home power installations by Jan. 1, 2026, and to offer remote inspection options by July 1, 2026; supporters said automation saves staff time and consumer costs.
The Senate committee on March 25 adopted a strike‑everything amendment to House Bill 20‑33 that would require municipalities and counties to adopt an instant permitting process for home power installations on single‑family and duplex dwellings by Jan. 1, 2026, and to offer remote field‑report inspections by July 1, 2026.
Staff told senators the amendment requires jurisdictions to post compliance reports and allows prescribed delays through a local resolution; municipalities with populations under 5,000 would be exempt. Witnesses, including solar industry representatives and county development officials, testified that automation improves turnaround times, reduces staff time and lowers costs for consumers.
Mike Gardner (solar industry) told the committee that adopting instant permitting saves consumers about $1,200 on average for rooftop solar projects. Michael Rossi (Pima County) described an NREL‑developed app his county uses that saved roughly 1.5 full‑time equivalent positions. Megan Delartino (Arizona Technology Council/Tesla) said jurisdictions that used automation saved over 10,000 staff hours in pilots and that the approach can cover storage and other homeowner generation projects.
The committee adopted the strike‑everything amendment and approved the bill on roll call (7 ayes, 0 nays).
