InstaBidsHow much will solar panels cost in Tacoma?
$18,000 was the median declared permit value for data years 2023-2026 in Tacoma, WA. Residential solar permits issued in Tacoma declared a typical range (middle half of 455 City of Tacoma permit data points, Tacoma, WA, 2023-2026) of $12,220 to $28,743.
Updated 2026-10-28
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| What was measured | Median declared value | Declared value range (middle half) |
|---|---|---|
| Residential solar permits issued in Tacoma declared | a median declared value on building permits of $18,000 | the typical range (middle half of 455 City of Tacoma permit data points, Tacoma, WA, 2023-2026) was $12,220 to $28,743 |
Declared permit values are what applicants reported to the city; final contract prices can differ.
How measured: residential single-job permits; declared values below the low-value floor for the same job removed (0 rows). Source: City of Tacoma, Planning and Development Services (Tacoma Open Data), data read 23 October 2026.
These figures are estimates from City of Tacoma, Planning and Development Services (Tacoma Open Data), data years 2023-2026, read 23 October 2026, for Tacoma, WA. They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.
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What the job includes, the line items to ask for and how to compare bids: the national solar panel system cost guide.
What do Tacoma solar permits declare?
Each Tacoma figure above is a declared permit value: what the applicant told the permit office the solar job was worth when applying. It is not an invoice.
The records come from City of Tacoma, Planning and Development Services (Tacoma Open Data).
The selection keeps permits with the Residential subtype whose descriptions match the job. Exact duplicate selected rows are removed before classification.
Before matching, the selection left out 4 permits for a new dwelling or work not on an existing home, 16 permits for legalisation, as-built work, revisions, supplements or renewals, and 5 permits whose descriptions also named another job.
Of the 456 matched permits, 455 carried a declared value. No values were removed by the low-value check, leaving 455 permits behind the figures.
The low-value check uses a fixed floor because the American Housing Survey has no hired-out figure for solar.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.
What do New York State program records (NYSERDA) measure?
The Census Bureau's American Housing Survey, used for the national figures on other cost pages, has no solar item, so the second block comes from New York State program records (NYSERDA).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.
The New York State program records measure the reported project cost of completed residential solar systems bought outright. The selection keeps purchases and excludes leases and power purchase agreements.
Source: NYSERDA, Solar Electric Programs Reported by NYSERDA, read 16 October 2026.
| What was measured | Median | Typical range (middle half) |
|---|---|---|
| Home solar systems bought outright and completed under NYSERDA programs in New York State had | a median of $38,702 | the typical range (middle half of 12,001 NYSERDA program data points, New York State (NYSERDA program data), 2025-2026) was $28,520 to $51,000 |
| By system size | a median of $3.84 per watt | the typical range (middle half of 12,001 NYSERDA program data points, New York State (NYSERDA program data), 2025-2026) was $3.20 per watt to $5.09 per watt |
How measured: owned, completed home systems, untrimmed; project cost divided by system size in watts. Source: NYSERDA, Solar Electric Programs Reported by NYSERDA: Beginning 2000, data read 16 October 2026.
These figures are estimates from NYSERDA, Solar Electric Programs Reported by NYSERDA: Beginning 2000, data years 2025-2026, read 16 October 2026, for New York State (NYSERDA program data). They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.
Full national guide: How much will solar panels cost?
The New York State block includes both a whole-system row and a per-watt row. The Tacoma permit block reports declared values by job.
What inspections and permits does Tacoma solar need?
Example rule, Tacoma Power solar installation: electrical permit before work: “Before installation begins, your contractor must apply for an electrical permit from Tacoma Power.”
Source: Tacoma Power solar installation, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Tacoma Power solar connection FAQ: advanced meter requirement: “Solar customers need an Advanced Meter because it measures electricity received from Tacoma Power and electricity sent back to the grid.”
Source: Tacoma Power solar connection FAQ, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Tacoma Planning and Development Services: solar exception in the height-limit list: “Solar panels/collectors that do not extend more than 12-inches above the surface of the roof”
Source: Tacoma Planning and Development Services, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Tacoma Municipal Code electrical installations: inspection request timing, section 12.06A.100.B: “Requests for inspection must be made by the Permit Holder that installed electrical equipment no later than three business days after completion of the electrical/telecommunication installation or one business day after any part of the installation has been energized, whichever occurs first.”
Source: Tacoma Municipal Code electrical installations, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Tacoma Municipal Code electrical installations: concealed wiring, section 12.06A.100.C: “Where an electrical installation is covered or concealed before approval, it shall be exposed for inspection.”
Source: Tacoma Municipal Code electrical installations, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Tacoma Municipal Code electrical installations: completed installation, section 12.06A.120.A: “The Permit Holder is required to request a final inspection at the time the electrical installation is completed.”
Source: Tacoma Municipal Code electrical installations, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Tacoma Municipal Code electrical installations: inspection access, section 12.06A.220.D: “The Permit Holder is responsible for providing or arranging access to the work to be inspected.”
Source: Tacoma Municipal Code electrical installations, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Tacoma Municipal Code electrical installations: owner-work inspection attendance, section 12.06A.230.A.4: “The electrical work shall be done by the applicant and he or she, as well as any person(s) who gave assistance with the electrical installation, must be present during all inspections.”
Source: Tacoma Municipal Code electrical installations, read 9 November 2026.
Example rule, Tacoma Municipal Code electrical installations: work requiring drawings, section 12.06A.240.C: “No inspection will be performed unless the approved plans are on the job site or special written permission is granted by the Chief Electrical Inspector or his designee.”
Source: Tacoma Municipal Code electrical installations, read 9 November 2026.
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Sources for the figures on this page
- City of Tacoma, Planning and Development Services (Tacoma Open Data), https://services3.arcgis.com/SCwJH1pD8WSn5T5y/arcgis/rest/services/accela_permit_data/FeatureServer/0, read 23 October 2026. InstaBids computed medians and middle-half ranges.
- NYSERDA, Solar Electric Programs Reported by NYSERDA: Beginning 2000, https://data.ny.gov/Energy-Environment/Solar-Electric-Programs-Reported-by-NYSERDA-Beginn/3x8r-34rs, read 16 October 2026. Used under the OPEN-NY Terms of Use; no endorsement by New York State or NYSERDA is implied.
- U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2023/AHS 2023 Value Labels Package.zip, read 16 October 2026.
- Tacoma Power solar installation, www.mytpu.org/community-environment-parks/solar/, read 9 November 2026.
- Tacoma Power solar connection FAQ, www.mytpu.org/community-environment-parks/solar/solar-and-net-metering-faqs/, read 9 November 2026.
- Tacoma Planning and Development Services, www.tacomapermits.org/tip-sheet-index/residential-height, read 9 November 2026.
- Tacoma Municipal Code electrical installations, ecode360.com/48392841, read 9 November 2026.