Cost guide
What solar installation costs on Long Island
What public data can and cannot tell you
No government agency publishes a price list for solar installation on Long Island, and vendor price ranges are not facts. What public data does show is what the labor costs, what the towns charge for permits, and what grants exist. The price for your job comes from licensed pros' written estimates after they see it.
What the trade earns on Long Island
| Occupation | Entry level | Median | Experienced | Jobs on Long Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Photovoltaic Installers | $53,544 | $57,681 | $66,657 | 200 |
| Electricians | $51,265 | $80,288 | $105,120 | 6,970 |
Annual pay from the New York State Department of Labor, updated to the first quarter of 2026. Entry level is the average of the lowest third of wages; experienced is the average of the top two thirds.
What the towns charge
- Town of Hempstead: The Town's Chapter 86 fee printout of July 31, 2018 sets a $100 application fee to install a residential solar photovoltaic system. The Town describes it as a nominal fee cap meant to encourage renewable energy.
- Town of Huntington: Huntington charges a $60 application fee for a standard installation solar permit under Town Code 157-14 and $100 for one that is not a standard installation. Every solar permit also carries a $50 Certificate of Occupancy fee.
- Town of Riverhead: Riverhead takes solar permits on its Long Island Unified Solar Permit Initiative form, for a non-refundable $150, or $50 when the job qualifies for the residential fast track.
- Town of Southampton: Southampton charges $400 to permit residential solar on a single-family home.
- Town of Southampton: Southampton's electrical permit for a solar system costs $150.
- Town of Southold: Southold's solar panel permit totals $325.00, broken down as a $100 permit, a $125 electric charge and $100 for the certificate of occupancy.
- Town of Southold: Southold's electrical inspection price list sets photovoltaic systems at $125.
- Town of Shelter Island: Shelter Island's 2022 schedule sets one $200.00 fee for solar panels, whether ground mounted or roof mounted.
What moves the price
Solar prices turn on the size of the system, the roof, the equipment, the electrical work, and the incentives that apply when you sign.
How to compare estimates
- Give every company the same scope, in writing, so the prices compare.
- Check what each estimate includes: permits, disposal, patching, cleanup and warranties.
- Ask how changes are priced once work starts.
- Never pay most of the price up front.
Related
Questions homeowners ask
How much does a solar installer cost on Long Island?
No public agency publishes job prices. The price comes from written estimates after a licensed pro sees the job. For context, Long Island solar photovoltaic installers earn a median $57,681 a year, according to the New York State Department of Labor.
Why do estimates for the same job differ so much?
Usually because they price different scopes: different materials, permits, disposal or warranties. Give each company the same written scope and the prices compare.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official pages. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the office before you file anything.
- New York State Department of Labor, Occupational Wages (Long Island region, wages updated to the first quarter of 2026) (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Hempstead, Fees Building Department (PDF) (read 2026-11-03; page dated July 31, 2018)
- Town of Huntington, Requirements for Solar Panel Permit (311 article) (read 2026-11-03; page dated 8/9/2022)
- Town of Riverhead, Solar Energy Permit Application (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Southampton, Building and Zoning Fee Schedule (Residential) (read 2026-11-03; page dated effective 05/26/2026)
- Town of Southampton, Electrical Fee Schedule (read 2026-11-03; page dated effective 01/02/2026)
- Town of Southold, Fee Schedule (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Southold, Electrical Inspection Price List (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Shelter Island, 2022 Building Department Fees (read 2026-11-03; page dated 2022)
Checked 2026-11-03. Facts come only from the official pages listed, read on that date.
Talk the job through before you call anyone
Tell us about the house and the job in about four minutes. Revival calls you, free, to go over the scope, the budget, the timing and your town's permit office. Contractor matches open as our first licensed partners sign.