Winning solar projects starts with the right site survey questions. This guide gives you the exact questions to ask, grouped by electrical, roof, shading, storage, documentation and permitting. You will also see when to choose a remote solar site survey, how to run a professional assessment step by step, and how AI-driven software like Enervio turns surveys into accurate, same-day proposals. If you need to clarify terminology, see Solar site survey vs. site assessment: key differences.
Essential solar site survey questions checklist
Use these core questions to qualify any residential or commercial site quickly and accurately. For field-ready checklists that support on-site work, see Solar site inspections 101 guide.
- Electrical and interconnection
- Main service panel rating and busbar rating?
- Main breaker size and location of spare spaces?
- Service type – overhead or underground, single or three phase?
- Existing large loads or DER – EV charger, battery, generator?
- Utility interconnection path and meter location?
- Roof and structure
- Roof type and material – asphalt shingle, tile, metal, flat?
- Roof age, condition, layers and recent repairs?
- Rafter or truss size, spacing and orientation?
- Decking thickness and signs of rot or sag?
- Setbacks, pathways and fire code access requirements?
- Shading and layout
- Main obstructions – trees, chimneys, dormers, HVAC, parapets?
- Seasonal shading and future tree growth risks?
- True azimuth and pitch for each viable plane?
- Array layout options and inverter or microinverter choice?
- Nearby structures causing reflectivity or soiling?
- Battery and ESS readiness
- Intended backup loads and critical circuits?
- Space, ventilation and clearances for ESS?
- Ambient temperature range and sun exposure?
- Fire code, egress and separation from living spaces?
- Transfer switch or backup panel plan?
- Documentation and digital twin
- High resolution photos of roof planes and access paths?
- Close-ups of labels – meter, main panel, breakers, busbar?
- Measurements – ridge to eave, obstructions, set-backs?
- As-builts or structural drawings available?
- 3D model and solar simulation generated?
- Permitting and zoning
- Local permit type – over the counter or full structural?
- Historic district, HOA or design review needed?
- Wind, snow and seismic design loads?
- Interconnection rules – net metering, export limits?
- Required labels, diagrams and utility paperwork?
How to do a professional solar site survey step by step
Follow this workflow to capture accurate data, reduce change orders and speed permitting.
- Pre-qualification – remote scan
- Use satellite and LiDAR to size array areas, detect roof planes and estimate pitch.
- Pull utility rate, customer usage and interconnection rules.
- Flag potential red flags early – shaded sites, old roofs, no spare panel capacity.
- Customer interview
- Goals – bill offset target, backup needs, budget and timeline.
- Future plans – EV, heat pump, additional loads or additions.
- Access constraints – roof access, HOA rules, work hours.
For pre-visit questions you can handle remotely, see remote solar site assessments for sales.
- Electrical assessment
- Document service size, busbar, main breaker and open spaces.
- Apply NEC 705 interconnection options – 120 percent rule, line side tap, downsizing main, or supply side service equipment.
- Record conductor sizes, grounding and labeling needs.
- Roof and structure
- Inspect surface condition, penetrations, drainage and pathways.
- Confirm framing size, spacing and attachment method for mounting.
- Measure setbacks per local fire and building code.
Not sure about structural capacity? When in doubt, consult a licensed structural engineer for verification.
- Shading and layout
- Map obstructions and measure heights and distances.
- Run shade analysis per plane — monthly TSRF or solar access values; see how to calculate solar access and TSRF.
- Select inverter architecture to mitigate shade if needed.
- Battery and backup
- Define critical loads and backup duration expectations.
- Choose ESS location that meets clearance and temperature limits.
- Plan transfer equipment and code-compliant labeling.
- Documentation and handoff
- Create a digital twin with annotated photos and measurements.
- Generate permit-ready diagrams and a bill of materials.
- Summarize constraints and approvals needed for the customer.
On-site vs remote solar site surveys
Remote solar site surveys are ideal for early qualification and fast quoting. With modern imagery, LiDAR and AI, you can size arrays, estimate production, detect roof planes and even pre-plan interconnection options before you roll a truck. On-site surveys still matter when the panel capacity is borderline, the roof is aging or complex, or when ESS placement, structural verification or historic district rules require physical confirmation. Many top installers blend both – remote first to pre-qualify and price, on-site only when needed to finalize permitting or structural details.
How software and AI improve solar site surveys
Solar design software turns surveys into a repeatable, low-friction workflow. You can centralize questions, force required photos and fields, auto-build a digital twin and export permit sets. AI enhances every step – image recognition to classify roof types and obstructions, auto-measurements from imagery, shade simulations per plane and code checks that flag busbar limits or clearance violations. Enervio goes further for sales teams that need speed. You get a remote property analysis that captures roof size, type, HVAC and building characteristics without a truck roll. A 3D visualization with sun, shade and panel simulation helps you educate the customer. An AI-driven agent answers questions and guides choices. With one click you can send an accurate quote with property-specific savings, then sync data to your CRM or quoting stack. The result is shorter sales cycles, fewer change orders and higher close rates.
Pro tips for accuracy and speed
- Standardize your checklist – the same questions, photos and measurements every time.
- Collect high resolution, well-lit photos of the main panel labels and breakers.
- Verify busbar and main breaker ratings against nameplates, not assumptions.
- Measure from fixed references – ridge to eave and obstruction offsets – to align plans with reality.
- Design for expansion – plan spare breaker space and conduit paths for EVs or ESS.
- Document code assumptions – fire setbacks, wind and snow loads, rapid shutdown devices.
- Use remote pre-qualification to avoid low-yield or non-viable sites before scheduling on-site.
- Close the loop – turn the survey into a permit-ready design and a customer-facing 3D view.
FAQs
What is a solar site survey?
A solar site survey is a structured assessment of a property to confirm technical and code feasibility for PV and optional battery storage. It captures electrical capacity, roof and structure, shading, layout options and permitting requirements, and produces documentation for accurate pricing, interconnection and permitting. For complementary scope and outcomes, see What is a solar site assessment.
How do you do a site survey for solar?
Start with a remote scan using satellite and LiDAR to size the array and assess shading. Interview the customer on goals and future loads. On-site, document the main panel ratings, breakers and open spaces, verify roof condition and framing, measure setbacks and obstructions and define ESS location if applicable. Create a digital twin and compile permit-ready drawings.
What is the 33 percent rule in solar panels?
There is no universal 33 percent rule in solar. People often mean the NEC 120 percent busbar rule that limits PV backfeed relative to panel bus rating, or local fire and zoning rules that cap roof coverage or require pathways. Always check the current local electrical and fire codes and the utility interconnection handbook.
What belongs on an electrical panel checklist?
Record service size and busbar rating, main breaker size, available breaker spaces, conductor sizes, grounding and bonding, labeling, and meter location. Note existing large loads and any existing DER. Decide interconnection path – 120 percent rule backfeed, line side tap, downsized main or supply side connection – based on capacity and code.
When should you choose a remote solar site survey?
Choose remote for fast pre-qualification, early design and instant quotes. It is ideal for standard roofs with good imagery and straightforward interconnection. Switch to on-site when the roof is aging or complex, panel space is tight, ESS placement is tricky or when the AHJ or utility requires physical verification.
What is a digital twin in solar?
A digital twin is a high fidelity 3D model of the property that includes roof planes, obstructions, equipment locations and electrical points. It links to photos and measurements, enables shading and production simulations, and feeds permit drawings and bills of materials for accurate construction planning.
Do drones help with shading analysis?
Yes, drones capture high resolution imagery and obstruction dimensions that improve shading models and array layout. They speed data collection on large or complex roofs and reduce safety risks. Combine drone data with LiDAR and software simulations to get bankable solar access values by plane.
How does Enervio speed solar quotes?
Enervio performs a remote property analysis to collect roof and building data, builds a 3D solar simulation, guides prospects with an AI agent and generates one click proposals with site specific savings estimates. You cut truck rolls, shorten sales cycles and keep your team focused on installs.
