Davenport, FL Solar Panels

Verify the license

A contractor performing paid rooftop solar installation generally needs the appropriate Florida contractor credential. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), through its Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), lists Certified Solar Contractor (CV) and Registered Solar Contractor (RV) classifications. Certified credentials allow statewide contracting; registered credentials are limited to the authorized jurisdiction. A separate solar credential is not always required: another Chapter 489 certified or registered contractor may perform solar work within the scope of that credential. Ask for the contracting business’s legal name and license number, then confirm its credential and authorized scope through DBPR/CILB’s license-verification resources or by contacting the board. Florida’s contractor licensing provisions explain the requirements.

Look for certified installers

Ask whether the people designing and installing the system hold a relevant credential from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), and what the credential covers. NABCEP certification can be a useful additional qualification to compare, but it does not replace the Florida contractor credential. Also ask about manufacturer certifications for the proposed panels and inverters: find out which products they cover and whether they apply to the team doing your installation. Compare the details rather than treating a certification label as a guarantee of system performance.

Compare quotes the same way

Request written proposals with comparable equipment and assumptions. A lower price may reflect a different system size, equipment, or scope. Check each quote for:

• System size in kilowatts (kW) and total price, so you can compare price per watt.
• Panel and inverter brands and models, plus the estimated production in kilowatt-hours per year (kWh/year) and the assumptions behind it.
• Warranty terms for panel product and performance, inverter, workmanship, and roof penetrations. Check what each covers and who provides it.
• Who handles building and electrical permits and the utility interconnection application.
• Total cost if paying upfront, or monthly payment and any escalator if financing or leasing. Compare the full payment terms, not only the starting payment.

Permits, interconnection and your HOA

Building and electrical permits go through the local enforcement agency—typically the city or county building department for the property. Ask the installer who prepares and submits them. The homeowner applies to the electric utility serving the property for interconnection approval and any required agreement or metering; ask whether the installer will help with the process. Local utilities include Florida Power & Light Co, Duke Energy Florida, LLC, Tampa Electric Co, and JEA, but confirm which serves your address and check its program. Florida Statute § 163.04 generally bars binding agreements from prohibiting or effectively prohibiting solar devices. An association may specify a roof location within the statute’s south-facing orientation if that does not impair effective operation. Read the statute and ask the association about its process.

Red flags

• Pressure to sign the same day or a salesperson who discourages comparing written quotes.
• An installer who cannot provide a verifiable Florida credential, or an unclear answer about which contractor is responsible for out-of-state crews.
• Vague production estimates without a written annual kWh figure and clear assumptions.
• A large upfront deposit without a clear written payment schedule and scope of work.
• Promises of federal homeowner tax credits for purchases in 2026; those credits ended for homeowners on December 31, 2025.