While many jurisdictions have adopted no-touch permitting in recent weeks, San Luis Obispo County has gone a step further. They are now one of the first jurisdictions in California to offer instant permitting for solar. According to the building department: 

“The County's online E-permitting system has been temporarily modified to accommodate the current COVID19 shelter-in-place order and to ease permit access for licensed contractors.  The zoning restrictions for e-permits has been temporarily lifted. In all zoning classifications a permit for a residential electrical panel change out, water heater, furnace replacement or micro-inverter based photo-voltaic system can be obtained as an (instant) E-permit.  

Previously these permits were limited to residential zoning only.  The e-permits are located in CSS (Citizen Self Service Portal) with the work classifications for the online PV permits.  Please read and answer the questions accurately in the E-permitting process.  This system checks the CSLB website for the appropriate contractors license, just as the online submittal process does.  Be sure that you have a current contractors license for the type of permit you are attempting to obtain.  If you have questions  Feel free to call or e-mail me or Sylvia Aldana  saldana@co.slo.ca.us  (805) 781-4671.”

The Citizen Serve Portal is available here.