SB1202

SB1202 creates a direct third-party review and inspection path for qualifying home backup-power installations, without first submitting the plans to the local regulatory authority or asking it to inspect. Covered installations are generating facilities, energy-storage facilities, standby systems and associated infrastructure/equipment intended to supply a one- or two-family dwelling, connected at 600 volts or less, whether or not they can participate in a wholesale electricity market. Utility tariffs and cooperative/municipal utility interconnection and service policies remain unaffected. Signed June 20, 2025, the act took effect September 1, 2025. Final law, section 247.0025(a)–(c) and act section 4; Official history.

Who may perform the work: The pathway uses the existing authorized reviewer/inspector categories and adds certified electrical inspectors and licensed master electricians. Existing categories include specified local-government staff and licensed engineers, with International Code Council-certified building inspectors also eligible for inspections. Electrical inspectors must meet the referenced certification definition. The plan reviewer may not be the applicant or someone whose own work is being reviewed; the inspector may not be the land/improvement owner or someone whose own work is being inspected. The new path does not authorize homeowners or installers to approve their own work simply because they are involved in the project. Final law, section 247.0025(c); Existing eligibility categories; Electrical-inspector definition; Master-electrician provision.

Rules, software and fees: The local authority must post the laws, rules, standards, fee schedule and other needed review information online, or provide an electronic copy within two business days after a request. A third party may rely on that information’s accuracy/completeness and use review software without an additional manual review. If the authority has not supplied the required information, the reviewer/inspector may use the applicable municipal or unincorporated-county statutory building-code standards. This is not a waiver of building codes or applicable law. Final law, section 247.0025(d)–(f); Municipal residential-code provision; County building-code provision.

The act extends the prohibition on local fees for the third-party review/inspection to the whole chapter. Separately, an authority that has not posted or supplied the required fee schedule cannot charge for issuing the installation’s approval, permit or certification. That conditional issuance-fee rule is not a statement that every permit is always free. Final law, section 247.0025(g) and act section 2.

Notice and construction: Third parties must follow applicable law and notify the authority of results within 15 days after completion. They must provide copies of development documents and inspection notes/reports they create no later than that notice. The authority must issue applicable approvals, permits and certifications within three business days after receiving the prescribed approving notice. Construction may begin when the notice approving the development document is submitted, rather than waiting those three business days. If the authority has prescribed no notice format, email to its address is permitted; any prescribed format cannot prevent software-automated review/approval without added manual review. Final law, sections 247.0025(h)–(j) and 247.004.

Liability: The local regulatory authority is not liable for a third party’s review or inspection under this new section. The reviewing or inspecting person is liable for damages resulting from that person’s negligent acts or omissions in doing the work. The software permission therefore does not eliminate the reviewer’s legal duties or negligence exposure. Final law, section 247.0025(k)–(l).