Leon County, FL

Leon County became the first community in the Florida panhandle to receive SolSmart designation, and one of the first counties in Florida to achieve SolSmart Gold. One new milestone the county achieved through SolSmart was ensuring a three-day turnaround time for small rooftop solar PV permits, a requirement for Gold designation.

• Created an online permitting checklist, increasing transparency for community members and solar installers
• Reviewed local zoning codes and identified restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development
• Allowed solar by-right accessory use in all zones (so solar installations don’t require special permits or hearings)
• Cross-trained both inspection and permitting staff on solar PV
• Provided a streamlined permitting pathway for small PV systems