Albany, OH

Albany, Ohio earned SolSmart Silver in 2025 by adopting a comprehensive set of measures to streamline the solar installation process while maintaining safety. That included training municipal staff on solar best practices; updating, clarifying, and posting permitting and installation information for residents and businesses; reducing permitting turnaround times; and more.

• Posted online resources about residential and commercial solar PV financing options and incentives.
• Posted online resources about solar installers and/or solar quote platforms for solar PV.
• Posted a solar landing page on local government’s website with information that may include the community’s solar goals, educational materials and tools that promote solar
• Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of the community’s permitting process for residential rooftop solar PV.
• Trained permitting staff on best practices for permitting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems.
• Trained inspection staff on best practices for inspecting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems.
• Posted an online statement confirming a three-business day turnaround time for residential rooftop solar PV.
• Adopted a standard solar PV permit application form aligned with best practices.
• Required no more than one permit application form for a small rooftop solar PV system.
• Demonstrated that residential permit fees for solar PV are $500 or less.
• Posted solar PV inspection requirements online, including the inspection process and what details inspectors will review.
• Codified in the zoning ordinance that accessory use rooftop solar PV is explicitly allowed by-right in all major zones.
• Ensured the zoning ordinance permits small ground-mounted solar PV as an accessory use in at least one zoning district.
• Trained planning and zoning staff on best practices in planning and zoning for solar PV.
• Reviewed zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development.
• Posted an online document from the Planning/Zoning Department that states accessory use solar PV is allowed by-right in all major zones.