Florida gets enough sun that solar has become one of the more common home improvement permits filed statewide, but the process involves more than picking a panel and a roof angle. Between the building permit, the electrical permit, and the utility interconnection agreement, there are three separate approvals happening at once, and homeowners are often surprised none of them are optional.
Florida has a solar rights law that limits how much an HOA can restrict or prohibit solar installations, generally allowing HOAs to regulate placement and aesthetics but not to ban solar outright or impose requirements that significantly increase cost or reduce efficiency. That said, most HOAs still require a design review submission before installation, so it is worth checking your HOA's process separately from the county or city permit.
The structural side of the permit reviews whether your roof can support the added weight and wind load of the panel array, mounting hardware, and attachment points. This typically requires a layout showing panel placement, a structural letter or calculation from the installer or an engineer, and confirmation that the roof covering itself is in good enough condition to support a system expected to last twenty-plus years.
Fire code also plays a role here. Most jurisdictions require clear pathways on the roof, setbacks from the ridge and edges, so firefighters have safe access points in an emergency. A layout that maximizes panel coverage without those clearances will get sent back for revision.
This inspection is separate from the structural roof inspection and is typically scheduled once the electrical work is complete but before the system is energized.
Even after your permit passes final inspection, your system cannot legally be turned on until your utility company approves the interconnection agreement and installs or approves your net metering setup. This is a separate process from the county or city permit entirely, and it has its own timeline, which can sometimes be the longest part of the whole project. Installers usually handle this paperwork, but it is worth asking upfront how long your specific utility has been taking to process interconnection requests.
A solar installation touches three approval processes, not one. Confirm your roof is ready before panels go on it, check your HOA's design review requirements early, and ask your installer specifically how they are sequencing the utility interconnection so it is not the thing holding up your system after everything else is done.