California: every permit portal for solar, wind, and storage
The quick find: which office handles each approval a utility-scale project touches in California, with the agency's own page. Counties and cities add their own land-use approvals; the state table is the part that is the same across the state.
State and grid
| Approval | Where to go |
|---|---|
| State siting or certificateWhether the state itself approves where a generating facility goes, or leaves it to counties and cities. | Opt-in certification (AB 205) for solar and wind 50 MW+ and energy storage 200 MWh+California Energy CommissionOtherwise the county or city issues the conditional use permit under CEQA. |
| Grid interconnectionThe queue the project enters to connect: the regional grid operator, or the utility and public utility commission outside an RTO. | CAISO generator interconnection (Cluster Study)California ISO |
| Construction stormwater permitNPDES coverage for land disturbance of one acre or more, before earthwork starts. | Construction General Permit (SMARTS)California State Water Resources Control Board |
| Historic preservation reviewSection 106 consultation through the State Historic Preservation Office when a federal permit, federal funding or federal land is involved; many states add their own review on state land. | Section 106 / CEQA consultationCalifornia Office of Historic Preservation |
| Wildlife and habitat reviewThe state wildlife agency's project screening or natural-heritage data request; federal species go through USFWS IPaC. | Environmental review (CEQA, lake and streambed agreements, CESA)California Department of Fish and Wildlife |
| State road access and utility permitsA driveway onto a state highway, and a gen-tie or cable in state right of way. | Encroachment permitsCaltrans |
| Floodplain (state NFIP coordinator)Local floodplain development permits are county or city; the state coordinator lists who administers them. | State NFIP coordinator not script-checkableCalifornia Department of Water Resources · the agency's site blocks automated checks, so the link is as researched, not machine-confirmed |
| Water rights and wellsConstruction water, dust control and O&M wells: the state engineer, water board or environmental agency. | Water rightsState Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights |
| Property-tax incentive programState abatement or exemption programs for renewable generation, where one exists. | Active solar energy system new-construction exclusion (Rev. & Tax. Code 73) - LTA 2024/031 sunset clarificationCalifornia State Board of Equalization |
Federal portals (the same in every state)
| Approval | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Clean Water Act Section 404 / Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10 | U.S. Army Corps of EngineersRegulatory Request System: applications, pre-application meetings and jurisdictional determinations; the district office is by watershed. |
| Endangered species and critical habitat | U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceIPaC: official species list and the Section 7 consultation path for the project footprint. |
| Tall structures (wind turbines, met towers) | Federal Aviation AdministrationForm 7460-1 notice through OE/AAA before construction above the 14 CFR 77.9 heights. |
| Construction stormwater where EPA is the permitting authority | U.S. EPAEPA's Construction General Permit (NeT eNOI) in New Mexico, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, D.C., Indian country and the territories. |
| Projects on federal land | Bureau of Land ManagementRight-of-way applications and NEPA documents for BLM-managed land. |
| Transmission and wholesale market rules | Federal Energy Regulatory CommissionOrder No. 2023 cluster-study reforms, followed by every FERC-jurisdictional transmission provider, RTO or utility; ERCOT has its own process. |
County and city pages for California
From the nationwide permit finder; counties and cities issue most land-use approvals, so start with the jurisdiction that covers the parcel.
- California — Water permitting programs (State): California environmental authority. Start with this agency for the linked water program. Check construction stormwater, wastewater and water-quality approvals separately; this link does not cover every environmental permit.
- California — Opt-In Certification Program (State): California energy / siting authority. Confirm technology, project size, location and the current state-versus-local approval pathway with this authority.
- California — local government contacts (City & local): State government / local-government association. Locate the relevant government using this directory; some directories list only cities or only counties. Confirm municipal boundaries and any separate fire, drainage, water or other district authority.
- San Diego County — online permitting (County): San Diego County Planning & Development Services. County planning and building services; check the applicable unincorporated-area and project-specific requirements.
- San Diego County — solar permitting (County): San Diego County Planning & Development Services. Solar-specific guidance, including land-use review for off-site-use installations.
Other states
How this list is made. Each link was found on the agency's own site and is re-checked by a script that loads it and records the date; a link that stops answering is shown without a link rather than dropped. Programs change with each legislative session: confirm fees, forms and thresholds on the agency page before filing. General information, not legal advice. How we check our data · Report an error.