I am building a ground mount for my solar panels in Michigan, does anyone know if the mount itself needs to pass inspection? I have the permits for the ground mount and the roof mount panels (separate permits) but I am unsure if they are going to be checking just the electrical for each or if the mount/structure will be checked as well. I am using a commercial mount for the roof mounted panels (from signature solar) but want to diy the ground mount panels and before I spend the money and do all the work I need to know if that is okay to do in Michigan. Thanks all.
DIYing ground mount solar panels in Michigan, the mount itself needs to pass inspection?
- Thread starter doox00
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cs1234
Solar Wizard
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Probably depends on where you are in Michigan. Most likely yes, they will want a structural / engineering review of the ground mount.
I am in rural area, in Ionia County.
cs1234
Solar Wizard
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That's useful info.. not to me, as I have no idea. But somebody here might be able to chime in on it.
wpns
Solar Joules are catch and release
Only your AHJ will know for sure, is there a way to ask?
I left a message with the inspector, will wait to hear back and see what they say.
teal95
Solar Wizard
In rural part of Jackson county. Most of the rural inspectors are pretty cooperative. When I went to pull the permit for my solar the electrical inspector told me with a very long face that anything solar has to have a license electrician pull the permit. Unfortunately that guy semi retired (went from inspecting 6 townships to 1) so we got a new inspector. The electrician told him I'd done most of the work, but he told us that if the electrician was happy with what I'd done that was good enough for him.
So meet up with the inspector and ask what he wants to see.
So meet up with the inspector and ask what he wants to see.
Spunky
Solar Enthusiast
I'm in Clare County and the township where I live doesn't have a Zoning Ordnance. So pretty easy sailing here.
Some like to see the footing depth before concrete, at least on the Buildings side. I'd fight the required professional ideal though. Our codes are from the State and that additional rule isn't State wide.
Some new permit fees where introduced this year specifically for solar.
Some like to see the footing depth before concrete, at least on the Buildings side. I'd fight the required professional ideal though. Our codes are from the State and that additional rule isn't State wide.
Some new permit fees where introduced this year specifically for solar.
I am in Ronald township and they do not have any zoning ordinance either from my understanding, not sure what that means exactly though lol.
I’m in rural Ingram County. My township required a zoning ordinance which consisted of our township supervisor and neighbor coming by and making sure the panels were in the backyard and 20’ from the property line. That was it.
I pulled two electrical permits which the State administers. One for the batteries and inverters . Done and passed. And one for the panels which is still in progress.
I pulled two electrical permits which the State administers. One for the batteries and inverters . Done and passed. And one for the panels which is still in progress.
Okay, good to know. I will see what the inspector says on Monday assuming he calls me back. I did not know I would need separate permits for the inverters and batteries too. So that would be 5 permits total for me then if so. I have an electrician doing all the AC stuff (moving service location, a few panels, 250' of buried line to the house from the solar shed and another to the pole barn etc), he is pulling that permit and doing that work, I am going to do all the rest.
Sorry for the confusion that caused that statement. I only needed separate permits because of timing. I wanted my inverters and batteries inspected this winter, well before I planned, purchased and installed my panels. So it was my choice, not a requirement.
So they did not bother looking at the holes for the ground mount posts? I spoke to my inspector yesterday and he said they need to inspect the holes before I cement the posts in, he also said they need to 6-7' deep each.
Nope - at least not yet. When I talked to him he was focused on making sure he saw the conduit trenches, but said nothing about the rack itself.
I am using a commercially purchased rack mount system that has engineering diagrams with it. Not sure if that matters. My racking system also didn't require me to drill holes and fill it with concrete. It uses a helical screw on the end of a post and you drill it down with a auger attachment on a skid steer.
I’m hoping that I will be done this weekend and can have him out next week for an inspection.
I guess we’ll see then.
I am using a commercially purchased rack mount system that has engineering diagrams with it. Not sure if that matters. My racking system also didn't require me to drill holes and fill it with concrete. It uses a helical screw on the end of a post and you drill it down with a auger attachment on a skid steer.
I’m hoping that I will be done this weekend and can have him out next week for an inspection.
I guess we’ll see then.
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So I had my inspection and he failed me for not having expansion couplings where my PVC pops out of the ground. It was a legit issue. The fix was pretty straightforward since i had my disconnects at each point.
Fixed it and he came by today and I got my green sticker. Whoo Hooo!
Fixed it and he came by today and I got my green sticker. Whoo Hooo!
What ground mount system did you go with? My township is saying that groundmount isn’t permitted for residential areas, I’m like wtfNope - at least not yet. When I talked to him he was focused on making sure he saw the conduit trenches, but said nothing about the rack itself.
I am using a commercially purchased rack mount system that has engineering diagrams with it. Not sure if that matters. My racking system also didn't require me to drill holes and fill it with concrete. It uses a helical screw on the end of a post and you drill it down with a auger attachment on a skid steer.
I’m hoping that I will be done this weekend and can have him out next week for an inspection.
I guess we’ll see then.
Weird! I live in a rural township and I could do it as long as it was in the backyard and 20’ from the property line.
I went with Ready Rack from APC Solar in Ridgeville, OH. I drove down to pick it up, saved me $650 in shipping. It’s a great racking system, pretty easy to setup and uses no concrete!
I went with Ready Rack from APC Solar in Ridgeville, OH. I drove down to pick it up, saved me $650 in shipping. It’s a great racking system, pretty easy to setup and uses no concrete!
I ended having to have to have engineered/stamped plans for my ground mounts, I found a local engineer and told him exactly what I wanted, charged be 1000 bucks for stamped plans and were ready a few days later I built 3 of them (and doing 2 more this summer). Passed all inspections and had the entire system up and going in November.
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