Integrated roof, solar, and battery systems for modern Los Angeles homes
Integrated roof, solar, and battery systems for modern Los Angeles homes
Average Time Required for a Typical Residential Solar Installation
Date:01/11/2026
Category: Solar System
By: Yuvi Sasson
6 min read
One of the most common questions I hear from homeowners is simple:
How long does solar installation actually take
Not the marketing version.
The real version, from the first inspection to the system being fully turned on and producing power.
The honest answer is it depends, but there is a realistic range you should expect when the project is planned properly.
In Southern California, most residential solar projects realistically take about three to four months from moving forward to permission to operate.
Below is a clear breakdown based on real residential solar projects I have worked on, including what speeds things up, what slows things down, and what most homeowners do not realize at the beginning.
From real projects:
The fastest timeline I have seen was about two months.
This is rare and usually happens when permits are issued quickly and the utility processes permission to operate without delays.
The longest timelines I have seen were around one year for a ground mount system and six months for a solar and battery system.
These timelines are measured from the site assessment all the way through permission to operate.
The reason timelines vary so much is that they depend on several factors, including the city, the utility provider, system complexity, and even the time of year. Holidays alone can add weeks to a project.
In most residential solar projects, the phase that takes the longest is the plan check. This is also the phase homeowners have the least visibility into, even though it has the biggest impact on the overall timeline.
Once plans are submitted to the city, they go through review. Every city has its own process and timeline. Some cities move quickly, while others have limited staff and longer review queues.
Even when the system design is clean and straightforward, this step can take longer than homeowners expect.
Not necessarily.
If roof work is planned correctly, it often does not delay the solar timeline at all.
In many cases, roof replacement or repair can be completed quickly while the solar plans are already under city review. When roofing and solar are coordinated properly, homeowners usually do not lose time and often end up with a better long-term result.
Even when everything looks simple at the start, delays can still happen.
The most common delays I see are city backlogs, inspection delays or correction requests, and the utility permission to operate timeline.
These delays are not usually caused by the installer. They are part of the approval process that most homeowners never see until they are in it.
In Southern California, the utility provider plays a big role in the timeline.
With the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, we are often able to obtain permits relatively quickly.
With Southern California Edison, the process is usually longer. When a battery is involved under current net metering rules, there are cases where the fire department also needs to review the system, which adds another layer to the process.
Once permits are approved and materials are ready, the actual installation is much faster than most people expect.
A standard residential solar installation on a shingle roof usually takes one to two days.
A solar and battery system typically takes two to four days, depending on the size of the system and the layout of the home.
We usually work full days from eight in the morning through late afternoon, focusing on safety, clean installation, and finish quality.
One of the biggest mistakes I see happens during the buying process.
Some homeowners choose a company based only on price without fully vetting who they are working with. I have seen cases where homeowners invested tens of thousands of dollars, had plans approved, and then the company completely disappeared.
One client, named David, found a company through an online marketplace. After investing about thirty thousand dollars and getting plans approved, the company stopped answering his calls. He had to start the process over.
My recommendation is simple. Do your research, ask the right questions, and once you choose a company you trust, listen to their guidance and let them work. Constant changes and second-guessing almost always slow things down.
David’s project in Torrance is a good example of a fast but realistic timeline.
We started the solar and backup battery process at the beginning of October, and the equipment was installed in December.
That is a quick timeline, but it is not the case for every project. Clear planning and no mid-process changes made the difference.
When one company handles the roof, solar, and battery together, planning starts from the roof, with consideration for the systems that will be installed on top of it.
There is one point of contact, one coordinated schedule, no finger-pointing, and one warranty.
From a timeline perspective, this approach is usually faster because the scope is planned as one complete system rather than separate projects competing for time.
If a homeowner asked me this directly, my honest answer would be:
Expect your solar and battery system to be fully installed and operating about three to four months after moving forward.
This is a realistic average, especially if you choose a company that values installation quality over speed.
In our case, we pay close attention to details like conduit placement, clean routing, and even painting conduits to match the home so the installation blends smoothly.
Those details matter long after installation day.
The key is choosing a team that plans the roof, solar, and battery together from the beginning, so timelines stay realistic and quality stays high.
