A roofer signs a reroof contract for a house with a four-year-old array. The array has to come off the roof and go back on. Nobody on the job has asked who pulls which permit, whose licence covers the reinstall, or what happens when one module cracks on the way down. By the time the inspector asks for the original plans, the file is in a former employee’s inbox.
This guide is for the US installer operations manager or permit coordinator who gets that call. It covers detach and reset (also written R&R, for remove and reinstall) on pitched residential roofs. A ground array has no roof to replace, so it follows a different set of sheets, covered in our ground mount solar permit guide.
Quick answer. A solar detach and reset permit covers taking an existing array off a roof and putting it back after a reroof. AHJ policies differ. Some issue a separate solar or electrical permit, one asks for it only when the system changes, and one folds it into the reroof permit with an affidavit. Same equipment, same place, original plans on site keeps it a reset. Any change becomes a new application.
Does a solar detach and reset need a permit?
Usually yes, but the form of the permit depends on the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). We read eight published AHJ documents on 31 October 2026. The table lists what each one says, with the document date where the document shows one.
| AHJ and document | What it requires for the reinstall | Plans and records | Who may do the work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County Public Works, Building Code Manual 1512 Article 1, 1 April 2025 (based on the 2023 Los Angeles County Building Code) | A separate permit for the reinstall, in addition to the reroof building permit | Previously approved plans if available. If not, photos or video taken before removal | Reroof by C-39. Reinstall by C-10 or C-46. A or B licence may apply for both trades |
| City of San Diego, Information Bulletin 301, May 2026 | Permit for the reinstall. It “does not allow any alteration of the original equipment or system” | Original approved record plan set with the submittal. A pre-removal inspection may be required | Qualified contractor holding a C-10 or C-46 licence |
| City of Gilroy, CA, Re-Roofing with Solar PV Policy, revised 14 March 2025 | A solar permit only if the system is modified. Otherwise the reroof permit alone | Inspector checks panels are back in the locations shown on the PV roof layout placard at the electric panel | C-46, C-10, A or B. A C-39 roofer cannot remove and reinstall the array |
| Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, CO, handout Rev 10/22/2025 | Building permit and electrical permit for the reinstall, plus the roofing permit | Pre-inspection where there is no permit history or no plans. Newer systems are checked against the original plans | Not stated in the handout |
| County of Santa Cruz, CA, Solar (PV) Reinstallation page (undated, 2026 footer) | Electrical permit and reroof permit. Reroof final waits for the electrical permit | Original approved plans on site at final. If lost, new plans matching the original installation | A qualified person who also attends the inspection |
| City of Capitola, CA, reroof with solar handout (undated) | Reroof permit with a $180 add-on for PV removal and installation. Solar R&R Affidavit returned before the permit issues | Reinstall “as per the originally approved plans” | Roofer and a qualified person sign the affidavit |
| City of Thousand Oaks, CA, Solar PV Systems page (undated) | Electrical permit and roofing permit. A solar permit if location, type or size changes | Combo permit application with the number of panels removed, site plan of the existing roof layout, original plans or permit number as available | Reroof by C-39. Electrical by B, C-10 or C-46 |
| City of Chicago, Department of Buildings, reroofing terms and conditions (undated) | The electrical contractor named on the reroof application may remove the array under that permit. A separate permit is required to reinstall | Existing PV must be identified on the reroof application | Electrical contractor named on the application |
Sources, in table order: LA County BCM 1512, San Diego IB 301, Gilroy policy, Pikes Peak handout, Santa Cruz County, Capitola, Thousand Oaks and Chicago.
Three patterns show up. Most of these AHJs treat the reinstall as its own permit. Gilroy ties the permit to a change in the system. Capitola prices the PV work as an add-on to the reroof permit and asks for a signed affidavit instead. Licensing is the second pattern: in every table row that names a licence, the roofing licence does not cover the electrical reinstall.
The sample is skewed. Six of the eight are in California, because California AHJs publish the most R&R policy. Pikes Peak and Chicago show that the idea travels, but the details do not. Policies are revised on the AHJ’s own schedule. Call the building department with the project address and ask which permits the job needs and who may pull them. Nothing here means a named AHJ will accept a particular submittal.
When does a reset become a new application?
A reset stays a reset while three facts hold. The equipment is the same, it goes back in the same place, and the original approved plans (or an equivalent record) are on site. That test is our reading across these documents. No single AHJ states it in one sentence, but Gilroy, San Diego and Thousand Oaks each describe one piece of it.
Gilroy gives the most useful list. A modification triggers a separate plan review and permit. The named modifications are a new array location or layout, added panels, and any change of equipment, including the inverter or the individual modules. A service panel upgrade is on the list too. San Diego says the reinstall permit allows no alteration. Thousand Oaks sends changes to location, type or size to a solar permit.
| What changes during the job | Still a reset? | What it needs |
|---|---|---|
| Same modules, inverter and layout, same roof covering type | Yes | Reinstall permit or reroof permit per the AHJ, original plans on site |
| One module cracks and the same model is available | Likely yes | Same model, recorded on the job file. Confirm with the AHJ, because policies say “same panels” or “original equipment” |
| One module cracks and the model is discontinued | No | Equipment change. Gilroy treats any change of modules as a modification |
| Optimizer or microinverter replaced with a different model | No | Equipment change, so revised single-line diagram and cut sheets |
| Array moves to suit new roof penetrations or a new roof layout | No | New layout. Thousand Oaks and Gilroy both route this to a solar permit |
| Roof covering changes, for example shingle to tile | Depends | LA County applies its standoff location table when the roof covering is different |
| New metal roof | Depends | LA County asks for the grounding and bonding method at plan check |
| Panels added, or a battery added while the array is down | No | New scope. See adding a battery to an existing solar permit |
| Main service panel upgraded during the outage | No | Separate permit in Gilroy |
This table is illustrative. Each row reflects wording in the documents above, and the AHJ that issued your permit decides how its own policy applies.
Which code edition applies to a new application?
The edition in force on the date of the new application, not the edition on the old permit. California states the rule in Health and Safety Code Section 18938.5. The California Building Standards Commission repeats it in the revision record for the 2025 California Electrical Code (errata dated 1 January 2026). Only building standards in effect when the building permit application is made apply to the plans and construction (California Building Standards Commission, 1 January 2026). The same record shows the 2025 California Electrical Code adopts the 2023 NEC and repeals the 2020 edition, effective 1 January 2026. An array permitted in the previous cycle was drawn to the 2020 NEC. A swapped module or inverter filed after that date is drawn to the 2023 rules, including the rapid shutdown wording. Other states differ, so check which NEC edition your state enforces and name the edition on the cover sheet.
The revision work itself is the same work described in our guide to a stamp revision after an equipment swap. Stamping requirements are confirmed at quote stage, and the AHJ and the responsible professional decide what must be reissued.
What goes in the reduced plan set?
“Reduced plan set” is our term, not a code term. It means the smaller package that shows the AHJ what is coming off, where it goes back, and that nothing changes. The AHJ documents name its parts one at a time. Combined, they give this content:
- Cover sheet. Project address, original permit number, and a scope line. LA County asks that the work description read “reinstallation of existing rooftop mounted photovoltaic system due to reroof”.
- Original approved plans. San Diego, Santa Cruz, Capitola and LA County all point back to them. Santa Cruz says to request a copy from the Records Room if the originals are missing.
- Existing roof layout and site plan. Thousand Oaks asks for a site plan showing the existing roof layout and the number of panels removed and replaced.
- Equipment schedule marked as existing. Module model, quantity, inverter and any rapid shutdown devices, copied from the as-built record. Our guide to solar as-built drawings shows what that record should contain.
- Attachment detail. Attachment spacing, which LA County lists as an item to document when plans are missing, and standoff locations where the roof covering changes.
- Labels. The rapid shutdown label and the PV layout placard. Gilroy’s inspector checks the panels against the layout placard at the electric panel.
- Roofer coordination note. Who removes, who stores, who reinstalls, and who signs what.
If plans do not exist, two AHJs name a substitute. LA County accepts photos or video taken before removal. They must show module model number, quantity and locations, conductor, cable and conduit types and sizes, bonding of racking and modules, and attachment spacing. Santa Cruz requires new plans prepared to match the original installation. Pikes Peak performs a pre-inspection, in person or by uploaded photos, at the Chief Inspector’s discretion.
The full submittal package for a new permit is a larger document, and the solar permit design resource center maps the wider workflow. For the general sequence, see how to submit a solar permit to an AHJ. Sheet-by-sheet detail for a first-time set is in what is inside a permit-ready plan set.
A US installer that does not want to draw these in house can use our solar permit design service for US installers. Turnaround is agreed at scoping.
How do you re-certify attachments and flashing?
No AHJ in the sample asks for a formal re-certification certificate. The record that stands in for one is the attachment manufacturer’s instruction, followed and documented.
Racking manuals set the terms. One example is the IronRidge XR Flush Mount Installation Manual, version 5.2 (2026). It says installation not in accordance with its written instructions voids warranties. It tells the installer to use only the maker’s parts or parts the maker recommends. It lists torque values and calls for the roofing manufacturer’s approved sealant at roof attachments. Components are evaluated for multiple use and can be uninstalled and reinstalled in the same or a new location, unless otherwise noted. One reinstallation rule applies to the clamp: move the module at least 1/16 in so the clamp bites a new section of frame (IronRidge, XR Flush Mount Installation Manual v5.2, 2026). Other manufacturers differ, so pull the manual for the racking on this roof, not this example.
LA County adds a hardware rule of its own. Its manual says reuse of existing Weeb clips is not permitted, and standoff locations must follow its table when the roof covering is different.
Roof flashing is where reroof and reinstall meet, and where leaks start. Flashing is woven into the new roofing courses, so the roofer and the installer must agree on sequence before tear-off. Gilroy’s inspection shows why. The first reroof inspection is of the roof deck, after the array and old roofing are off and before new roofing goes on. For the mount type, see our entry on the L-foot and standoff.
Document these four items at reinstall:
- The manual edition used and the torque values applied.
- The sealant and flashing product at each penetration.
- Which fasteners and flashings are new and which are reused, if the manual allows reuse.
- The signed sheet from the roofer and installer stating who installed what. Capitola’s Solar R&R Affidavit, signed by the roofer and the qualified person, is the closest published example.
What about rapid shutdown and an older system’s compliance?
Here the AHJ documents disagree, which is why you must ask before pricing.
Pikes Peak says it is “not requiring any of these older systems to be brought up to current codes when re-installed”. It wants the reinstall to match the original design and manufacturers’ guidelines. Santa Cruz County and Capitola point the other way on grounding and safety. Both say: “All grounding/safety must meet the NEC/CEC requirements at the time of installation.” That can be read as the date of the reinstall. Do not guess. Put the question to the plan checker in writing and save the answer.
Rapid shutdown (the function in NEC 690.12 that de-energizes array conductors for firefighter safety) has two practical consequences on a reset. First, the rapid shutdown devices come off and go back with the modules, so the reinstall must restore each device and its wiring as originally listed. The racking manual tells installers to disconnect AC power before removing modules, microinverters and power optimizers. It adds that routine work must not break the bonding path (IronRidge, 2026). Second, the 2023 NEC moved the rapid shutdown marking requirements into 690.12(D), from 690.56(C) (John Wiles, IAEI Magazine, 23 March 2023). If the old label set was damaged or removed during the reroof, check it against the edition the AHJ enforces. Our NEC 690.12 rapid shutdown explainer compares the 2017, 2020 and 2023 rules, and the rapid shutdown glossary entry defines the terms.
Our recommendation, not an AHJ rule: before the crew leaves, run the manufacturer’s rapid shutdown test from the installation manual. Record the result in the permit file.
What will the inspector look for?
The inspection list depends on the AHJ, so the sequence below combines the stops that appear in the documents.
| Stop | Where it appears | What is checked |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-removal inspection or photo record | San Diego (may be required), Pikes Peak (when no plans or history), LA County (photos if no plans) | Existing equipment, wiring, bonding and attachment spacing before anything is touched |
| Roof deck inspection | Gilroy | Deck condition after array and old roofing are off, before new roofing |
| Reroof inspection before panels go back | Pikes Peak | At least one inspection on the reroof permit before reinstall |
| PV final | Santa Cruz, Gilroy, LA County (one hour inspection fee) | Reinstall to the original plans, panels in the original locations, label set, grounding and bonding. Santa Cruz wants original plans on site and the qualified person present |
| Reroof final | Capitola, Santa Cruz | Reroof cannot final until the PV is reinstalled (Capitola) or the electrical permit is issued (Santa Cruz) |
Schedule PV inspection and reroof final together where the AHJ allows it. A roof that is finished but cannot final because the PV permit is open leaves the homeowner with a half-closed job.
Who is protected if something goes wrong?
Warranty questions land on three parties: the roofer, the installer and the equipment manufacturer. The documents protect each only if they exist before work starts.
- Roofer. The roofer’s workmanship warranty covers the new roof. Penetrations made by the array sit in a different scope, so the contract should say who owns each flashing.
- Installer. The installer’s workmanship warranty covers the reinstall. The manual says non-conforming installation voids the manufacturer’s warranty, so the torque and sealant record is the installer’s evidence.
- Homeowner or lessor. For a leased array, Gilroy’s homeowner clearance form makes the homeowner notify the leasing company. The leasing company then reinstalls the modules in the original location. Agree this in writing before tear-off.
The documentation that protects an installer when equipment changes is one file. It holds the original plans, the pre-removal photo record, the equipment list marked as existing, and the signed statement that the equipment returned is the equipment removed. If one item changed, write down which item and why. Then route it to a new application as the AHJ requires.
Ask your utility whether it wants notice when a system will be offline for an extended period. We did not find a published rule to cite across the AHJs reviewed here, so treat it as a question, not a requirement.
Detach and reset checklist
Use this in order. Steps 1 to 4 happen before anyone touches the array.
- Confirm with the AHJ which permits the job needs, who may pull each, and which code edition applies. Save the answer in writing.
- Pull the original permit number, approved plans, as-built single-line diagram and equipment list.
- If plans are missing, request them from the AHJ records office, or take photos and video of modules, conductors, conduit, bonding and attachment spacing.
- Get the roofer, installer and homeowner (or lessor) to sign the scope: who removes, stores, reinstalls and warrants.
- Request any pre-removal inspection the AHJ requires.
- Record module serial numbers and positions on a roof map.
- Disconnect AC and DC per the manufacturer’s instructions, then remove modules, rails and attachments.
- Pass the roof deck inspection if the AHJ requires one.
- Let the roofer complete flashing and roofing.
- Reinstall to the original plans with the manufacturer’s torque values and approved sealant. Replace hardware the manual or AHJ says not to reuse.
- Restore the rapid shutdown devices and labels, then run the manufacturer’s rapid shutdown test.
- Photograph each attachment, label and the finished array.
- Schedule PV final and reroof final, with the original plans on site and the qualified person present.
- File the permits, photo record, torque and sealant log, signed scope and inspection sign-offs in the project record.
If any step turns up a changed module, inverter, layout or panel, stop and treat it as a new application.
How can Heaven Designs help with a reroof reinstall set?
Heaven Designs is a design and engineering firm. It does not install or sell hardware. For US installers, our solar permit design service covers permit plan sets, single-line diagrams and calculations. A reroof reinstall package can be scoped from your as-builts and the AHJ’s policy. Turnaround is agreed at scoping, and stamping requirements are confirmed at quote stage. To see a deliverable first, request the design samples. To discuss a specific reroof job, use our contact page. We reply within 1 business day.
FAQ
Do I need a permit to remove and reinstall solar panels for a reroof?
In most of the AHJ documents reviewed, yes, either a separate electrical or solar permit or a reroof permit that includes the PV work. Gilroy requires a solar permit only when the system is modified. Confirm the permit type with your AHJ before the tear-off date.
Can the roofer remove and reinstall the array?
Usually not. Gilroy states that a C-39 roofer cannot remove and reinstall the array. LA County, San Diego and Thousand Oaks assign the electrical reinstall to C-10, C-46 or, in some cases, B contractors. Chicago lets the electrical contractor named on the reroof application remove it, with a separate permit to reinstall. Licensing differs by state, so check yours.
Do I have to bring the old system up to current code when I reinstall it?
It depends on the AHJ. Pikes Peak says no for older systems. Santa Cruz County and Capitola say grounding and safety must meet the NEC or CEC at the time of installation. Ask in writing.
What if a module breaks during removal?
A same-model replacement may keep the job a reset, depending on the policy. A different model is an equipment change that Gilroy treats as a modification, so plan for a new application in that case.
Which documents protect the installer if equipment changes?
The original approved plans, the pre-removal photo record, the equipment list marked as existing, the torque and sealant log, and the signed scope. Together they show what was removed, what went back, and what changed.