Riverview, FL Solar Panels

Verify the license

Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), through its Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), oversees contractor credentials. Ask each installer for the credential type and number, then confirm it with DBPR/CILB and check that its scope covers your project and location. Florida lists Certified Solar Contractor (CV) and Registered Solar Contractor (RV) classifications: certified credentials permit statewide contracting, while registered credentials are limited to their authorized jurisdiction. A separate solar credential is not always required; another Chapter 489 credential may cover solar work within its authorized scope. Review Florida’s contractor-licensing statute.

Look for certified installers

Ask whether the people designing and installing your system hold NABCEP certifications, and what each certification covers. This gives you another qualification to compare, not a substitute for checking the required Florida contractor credential. Ask about any manufacturer certifications, too: have the installer identify the products and the specific certification held, and explain what it means for the proposed equipment. Compare credentials consistently across bids rather than treating a certification label alone as proof that one proposal is better.

Compare quotes the same way

Request itemized proposals with the same assumptions. A lower total can reflect a different system size, equipment package, or payment arrangement, so compare details side by side:

• System size: capacity in kW and the price per watt.
• Equipment: panel and inverter brands and models.
• Expected output: estimated production in kWh per year, plus the assumptions behind the estimate.
• Warranties: panel product and performance, inverter, workmanship, and roof penetrations; note who provides each and its stated duration and coverage.
• Project responsibilities: who handles permits and utility interconnection.
• Payment: total cost or monthly payment, plus any escalator and how it changes payments.

Ask each installer to explain differences in estimates or warranty terms in writing before comparing the final numbers.

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. Interconnection approval, and any required agreement or metering, is handled through the electric utility serving your home. Confirm which utility serves your address and ask about its current program; utility names to check include Florida Power & Light Co, Duke Energy Florida, LLC, Tampa Electric Co, and JEA. See Florida’s permitting statute. Florida Statute § 163.04 generally prevents 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 that does not impair effective operation. Read the solar-access law.

Red flags

• Pressure to sign the same day, before you can compare terms or ask questions.
• An installer who will not provide verifiable Florida credentials, or crews whose credential and authorized scope cannot be confirmed.
• A vague production estimate with no annual kWh figure or explanation.
• A large upfront deposit without a clear written payment schedule and explanation of what it covers.
• Promises that a homeowner can claim a federal tax credit for a purchase made in 2026; homeowner credits ended December 31, 2025.

Palmetto is one installer you can include in your comparison, with a lease option through LightReach.