Orlando, FL Solar Panels

Verify the license

Florida generally requires a contractor doing paid rooftop solar installation to hold an appropriate state contractor credential. The DBPR’s Construction Industry Licensing Board lists Certified Solar Contractor (CV) and Registered Solar Contractor (RV) classifications; a certified credential allows statewide work, while a registered one is limited to its authorized jurisdiction. A separate solar credential is not always required: another Chapter 489 contractor may perform solar work within its authorized scope. Ask for the contracting company’s legal name and credential, then confirm with DBPR/CILB and the city or county that the credential covers the work and location. The Florida contractor statute explains the licensing rules.

Look for certified installers

Ask whether the people designing or installing the system hold a relevant credential from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), and verify what credential each person has. NABCEP certification is a professional qualification to consider, not a replacement for the required Florida contractor credential. Ask what a manufacturer’s installer certification covers, who holds it, and whether it affects equipment support or warranty service. Neither kind of certification guarantees a particular system outcome.

Compare quotes the same way

Request written quotes with the same assumptions, then compare:

• System size in kilowatts (kW) and total price per watt.
• Panel and inverter brands and models.
• Estimated annual production in kilowatt-hours (kWh/year), plus the assumptions behind the estimate.
• Warranty terms separately: panel product and performance, inverter, workmanship, and roof penetrations.
• Who handles building and electrical permits and the utility interconnection process.
• Total cost if buying, or monthly payment and any escalator if financing or leasing; compare the full written terms, not just 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 which party prepares and submits them. The homeowner applies to the electric utility serving the home for interconnection approval and any required agreement or metering; ask the installer what it will handle and what remains your responsibility. Local utilities include Florida Power & Light Co, Duke Energy Florida, LLC, Tampa Electric Co, and JEA, so verify the program with the utility at your address. Florida Statute § 163.04 generally bars binding agreements from prohibiting or effectively prohibiting solar devices. An association may set a roof location within the statute’s specified south-facing orientation if effective operation is not impaired. Read the statute.

Red flags

• Pressure to sign the same day or before you have reviewed the full contract.
• An unlicensed contractor, or an out-of-state crew or subcontractor whose responsible Florida-credentialed contractor is unclear. Confirm who is named on the contract and permit.
• A vague production estimate, or refusal to explain its assumptions.
• A large upfront deposit without clear written payment milestones and terms.
• A promise of a federal homeowner tax credit for a 2026 purchase; homeowner credits ended December 31, 2025.

For suspected unlicensed contracting or licensing issues, DBPR handles construction-industry complaints. FDACS accepts general consumer complaints about businesses and contracts, but cannot require a particular remedy. FDACS explains how to file a complaint. Palmetto is one installer homeowners can compare, including a lease option through LightReach.