You signed. You paid. You got a project coordinator. And now you're waiting.
Your solar system isn't on your roof yet because someone at the county needs to stamp a piece of paper. And that stamp is taking a really long time.
Here's the honest answer for why, and what actually controls your timeline.
Based on KIN's internal permitting data across 154 active Florida projects, the average permit approval time is 54 days.
That's not a worst-case number. That's the average.
And it varies wildly depending on where you live:
| County / City | Average Approval Time |
|---|---|
| City of Lakeland | 3 days |
| Hillsborough County | Less than 1 day |
| City of Crestview | 4 days |
| Charlotte County | 8.5 days |
| Santa Rosa County | 7.7 days |
| Pasco County | 10.2 days |
| Volusia County | 13.8 days |
| Lee County | 14 days |
| Bay County | 17 days |
| Orange County | 16 days |
| Okaloosa County | 25 days |
| Polk County | 31 days |
| City of Cape Coral | 38.8 days |
City of Cape Coral's longest single permit in KIN's records: 65 days. That's over two months for a county signature.
So if your neighbor got panels up in three weeks and you're still waiting at week six, it's not that something went wrong. It's probably just that you're in different counties.
When your project is in the permitting phase, here's what's happening:
Some counties use online portals and process applications fast. Others are still running email-based systems, require paper submissions, or have backlogs with no predictable timeline.
That timeline is set by the county, not the installer.
In July 2025, Florida passed HB 683, which requires counties to approve single-trade solar permits within 5 business days. Miss that window and the permit is automatically approved.
Five days. Not 38 days. Five.
Here's the catch: the law applies to single-trade permits (electrical only). Some counties classify residential solar as multi-trade (building plus electrical), which puts it outside the 5-day rule.
Whether you benefit from HB 683 depends entirely on how your county categorizes your permit type. Different counties, different classification rules, different outcomes. That's exactly why timelines vary so much across Florida.
1. Rejection and resubmission
If the county finds a problem with the application (missing documentation, a labeling error, an equipment spec that doesn't match), they reject it. The clock resets. This alone can add 2-4 weeks.
2. HOA approval required
If your neighborhood has an HOA, most Florida counties won't accept your permit application until you have written HOA approval. If your HOA is slow, your permit is slow.
3. County backlogs
City of Cape Coral and Polk County consistently have long queues. Their average times reflect structural backlogs, not anything project-specific.
4. Dual permit requirements
Some counties, including parts of Okaloosa County, require two separate applications: one for the solar system and one for the electrical. Both need to clear before you can schedule your install.
5. Paper-based counties
A small number of Florida counties don't have online portals. Applications go by email or even physical mail. Follow-up is manual. Status is opaque.
The permit phase is largely outside any installer's control. What you can control is making sure the application is right the first time and that someone is watching its status.
Here's what KIN does:
We're also tracking HB 683 compliance across all active Florida permits. Where the law applies and the timeline has been exceeded, we push the county directly.
None of this makes the county move faster. What it does is make sure no time is wasted on KIN's end.
Honestly? Not much. The permit phase is a county process.
The one thing that can meaningfully slow you down from your side: HOA approval. If you haven't submitted your solar installation to your HOA yet, do it the day you sign. Florida HOAs are legally required to respond within 45 days and can't unreasonably deny solar installations. But 45 days is still 45 days.
Other than that, your project coordinator is your contact. If you haven't heard anything in three weeks, ask for a permit status update. It's a normal request.
Florida solar permits average 54 days in KIN's active Florida portfolio. That number is real, and it's not going away anytime soon. It's driven by county infrastructure, not installer speed.
The fast counties (Hillsborough, City of Lakeland, City of Crestview) genuinely move quickly. The slow ones (City of Cape Coral, Polk) are slow for everyone.
Your system will get installed. The permit phase is real, it takes time, and it's the same for every Florida solar customer regardless of who installed their panels.
Questions about your project's status? Contact your KIN project coordinator or reach us at support@kinhome.com or (855) 264-0363.