Quick Facts — Travis County (Unincorporated)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authority Having Jurisdiction | Travis County TNR Development Services |
| Phone | (512) 854-7700 |
| Portal / Address | https://tnr.traviscountytx.gov/ |
| Estimated Permit Fee | $150–$350 |
| Typical Approval Timeline | 7–12 business days |
| Required Inspections | Electrical rough, final |
| Primary Utility | Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) or Bluebonnet EC (most unincorporated areas) |
| PTO Timeline (post-final) | 20–35 business days |
County-Specific Requirement
Most unincorporated Travis County is served by Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) or Bluebonnet Electric Co-op — not Austin Energy (which serves within Austin city limits). Electric cooperative interconnection processes differ from investor-owned utilities: PEC requires a Member Solar Application; Bluebonnet requires a Distributed Generation Application. Both may require an anti-islanding relay inspection in addition to the standard county electrical final.
Required Permit Documents
- Completed permit application — from Travis County TNR Development Services
- Site plan / plot plan — overhead drawing showing panel placement, setbacks, north arrow, to-scale
- Roof plan with panel layout — IFC fire setback dimensions (18-inch perimeter; 36-inch hip-to-ridge on hip roofs)
- Single-line electrical diagram (SLD) — from installer, identifying all equipment by model number
- Equipment specification sheets — panels, inverter, racking
- Structural engineering letter — typically required for systems over 10kW
- Permit fee — $150–$350 (verify current rate with AHJ)
Utility Interconnection — Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) or Bluebonnet EC (most unincorporated areas)
Identify your co-op before submitting any applications. PEC: pedernaleselectric.coop → solar. Bluebonnet: bluebonnetelectric.coop → solar. Co-op interconnection timelines vary more than IOU timelines — 20–45 business days is typical. Contact your co-op's engineering department directly for current processing times.
Filing your Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) or Bluebonnet EC (most unincorporated areas) interconnection application on the same day as your county permit application saves 3–6 weeks by running both reviews in parallel. Most utilities accept applications before installation begins.
Full interconnection guide: Solar Interconnection Application Steps.
Inspection Schedule
Required inspections: Electrical rough, final. Schedule through the Travis County TNR Development Services portal or by calling (512) 854-7700. Your installer typically schedules inspections on your behalf — confirm dates in advance and ensure someone is available to provide access to the electrical panel and roof.
Full inspection guide: Solar Permit Inspection: What to Expect.
HOA Solar Rights — Texas
For Texas HOA solar rights law and a template approval request letter, see our HOA Solar Rights by State guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ask your installer for the permit application number. With that number, look up the permit status at the Travis County TNR Development Services online portal or call (512) 854-7700. You want to see the permit as "issued" and eventually as "finaled" (final inspection passed). A permit that is issued but not finaled means the installation is incomplete from a permitting standpoint — your utility will not issue PTO until the permit is finaled.
Unpermitted solar carries significant risks: insurance claim denial on fire or weather damage, resale disclosure liability, and inability to obtain utility PTO (which means your system can't legally export power). Retroactive permitting is available at Travis County TNR Development Services — contact them at (512) 854-7700 to ask about the as-built permit process. Expect a penalty fee of 2–3x the standard permit fee for unpermitted work. Full guide: What Happens If You Install Solar Without a Permit.
Requirements vary by jurisdiction. Some AHJs issue a single combined building/electrical permit for solar PV. Others require separate applications. Contact Travis County TNR Development Services at (512) 854-7700 or check their permit portal to confirm whether you need one application or two. Your installer should know this for your specific county — ask them before they submit.