Remote Video Inspections for Solar Installers: What to Capture for Final Approval

For most solar installers, the job isn't finished when the last panel goes up. It's finished when the inspector signs off. Waiting days for an inspection window, then hoping the inspector sees everything needed on one visit, can leave a finished system installed but unpowered.

Remote video inspections change that. Instead of waiting for an inspector to drive to the property, the installer shows the work on camera, by live video, by submitted photos, or by a mix of both. Agencies that offer this save travel, and installers get to final approval faster.

But remote inspections are unforgiving about preparation. The inspector can only approve what they can see, so a missing photo means a delay. This guide explains why solar leads the shift to remote inspection, how agencies structure these inspections, exactly what to capture for final approval, and how to avoid the mistakes that trigger a return visit.

Why solar is leading the shift to remote inspection

Solar has become the proving ground for remote inspections, and the numbers explain why. A report from the nonprofit IREC, covered by pv magazine, found that 29 cities and counties across 19 states now offer remote virtual inspections for residential solar or battery systems.

The benefits show up on both sides of the permit counter:

• Installers finish faster. Freedom Forever told IREC that in Texas, where state law lets installers hire an approved third-party remote inspector, it schedules the inspection for the same day as the install and gets approval before the crew leaves the site. Combined with third-party permitting, that can shorten the path from sale to approved installation to as little as one week.
• Inspectors cover more ground. The report estimates that inspectors can complete about three times as many remote inspections per year as on-site ones, saving a local government $30,000 per inspector per year. The City of Los Angeles completes about 100 remote inspections a day, including about 30 for solar.
• Inspection quality can improve. In New York, the Institute for Building Technology and Safety reported finding deficiencies that the on-site inspector missed in 22% of residential installations. The report also notes that many on-site inspectors don't climb onto roofs, so rooftop equipment often goes unseen.

Law is accelerating the trend. California's AB 1738 covers residential solar and home batteries among its covered upgrades, and the City of Sacramento says virtual inspections are required for Solar/PV permits starting January 12, 2026.

What a remote solar inspection covers

Many remote solar programs center on the final inspection, the one that stands between a completed system and permission to operate. The SolarAPP+ virtual inspection pilot, for example, is final inspection only. Other inspections, such as trenching, rough electrical, or fire, still happen in person. Other agencies go further: Hillsborough County, Florida, offers a solar rough-in inspection virtually, live or offline.

Agencies structure remote inspections in three main ways:

• Asynchronous review. The crew captures GPS-verified photos and videos against a guided checklist and submits the package. The inspector reviews it later and returns a pass, a revision request, or a rejection that sends the job to an in-person inspection.
• Live video. The installer connects with the inspector in real time and shows the work on camera.
• Photos first, then live. Los Angeles County asks for a defined set of photos before the live stream begins and says an inspection will not take place without them. Once the inspector has reviewed the photos, the live session starts.

Los Angeles County also requires jobsite verification for every solar inspection: a live stream or recorded video that shows the street address and advances to the location of the system. And as with any remote program, nothing is guaranteed. The county states that inspectors may require an in-person inspection of any portion or phase of a project.

Because requirements differ by jurisdiction, treat the checklist below as a model and confirm your agency's version before you schedule.

The photo and video checklist for final approval

Los Angeles County publishes one of the most detailed public lists of what a solar installer must show. Its rooftop PV guide has 22 items, and the photos are required before the live inspection starts. The county says not to substitute video for them and warns that an inspection will not take place without them. Here is that list, grouped by area.

Site and array

• The front of the building showing the street address
• The roof plane that supports the array, before the array is placed
• A view from the ground showing the array supports aligned with the rafters
• Roof planes showing the array setbacks
• The space under the array

Racking, roof penetrations, and flashing

• Photos taken during erection of the array, showing the racking without modules, bare copper ground wire, rail supports, junction boxes, and extended plumbing vents
• Junction box mounting hardware
• Conduit supported on roofs and secured to walls
• Conduit roof jack flashing

Attic

• Conduit located within the attic
• The underside of the roof sheathing directly under the array

Equipment and labels

• Manufacturer labels on modules, inverters, optimizers, service and distribution panels, disconnects, and transfer switches
• Applied labels at service equipment, disconnects, inverters, junction boxes, and conduit
• The location of all equipment, and the inside of all equipment

Electrical

• The inside of junction boxes, with a closeup of C-taps showing the crimping tool witness marks
• The AC disconnect, from the vantage point of the electrical service panel
• The service panel dead front and the inside of the service panel
• A closeup of any added circuit breaker and its manufacturer's label
• Grounding from the array to the electrode

Documents and safety

• An electronic copy of the approved plans
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm verification, by live stream or recorded video

Your jurisdiction may ask for more, less, or different items, so use this as a model and not a substitute for the local list.

How to run the live session

When a live session is part of the process, preparation decides whether it takes minutes or turns into a reschedule. These steps follow Los Angeles County's general guide for hosts.

1. Choose a host who knows the project. The person on the call should be familiar with the trade and the system being inspected, usually the responsible contractor.
2. Send the link or phone number early. For live streams, the inspector needs it before the scheduled start.
3. Submit the required photos first. For solar, the inspection will not start without them.
4. Start at the street. Show the address and the front of the property, then advance to the system.
5. Gather your gear. Expect to need a flashlight, tape measure, level, ladder, and someone to hold the phone.
6. Keep plans and documents handy. Approved plans should be available on request, and supporting documents should be uploaded to the permit beforehand.
7. Work safely. Follow all Cal OSHA safety measures, and minimize other construction work nearby to reduce risk and noise.
8. Follow the inspector's lead. Hold a steady view until you are asked to move on.

Afterward, results arrive in writing. If the inspection is asynchronous, the SolarAPP+ pilot returns one of three outcomes: pass, revision, or reject. A revision comes with a clear list of what the inspector needs, and you answer each item with a new photo, a note, or a justification, then resubmit.

Capture as you build, not at the end

The most important insight in that checklist is how much of it can't be photographed at the end of the day. Once modules cover the racking and flashing, the roof plane "before the array is placed" is gone. Those shots have to be taken while the work is happening, which is why the best installers build the capture into each stage of the install.

A simple routine works:

• Before racking. Shoot the address and each roof plane that will carry the array.
• During racking and wiring. Capture the supports against the rafters, flashing, ground wire, junction boxes, and conduit before anything is covered.
• In the attic. Photograph conduit and the underside of the sheathing under the array.
• At the equipment. Capture every manufacturer label and applied label while they are legible.
• At the end. Shoot the panel interior, the disconnect, and the completed array.

Location proof matters as much as the photos. The SolarAPP+ guide tells installers to turn on location services for every device, because GPS is what tells the inspector the evidence was taken at the site. Its app locks in GPS location and timestamps at the moment of capture, and it accepts gallery uploads only when the file carries location data that matches the site.

BlitzzCam is built for this workflow. Every photo and video is stamped with GPS and time at capture and filed to the right job, checklists attach required photos to each step, and crews can keep shooting offline and sync later with the original location and timestamp intact.

Common reasons a remote solar inspection fails

Most delays trace back to a handful of avoidable mistakes.

• Missing required photos. In Los Angeles County, an inspection will not take place without the pre-submitted pictures.
• Photos that can no longer be taken. Racking, flashing, and ground wire disappear under the array. If they weren't captured during the build, they can't be recreated.
• Location services turned off. Without GPS, there is no proof the evidence came from the site. Check every device before the crew starts.
• Poor signal or lighting. Los Angeles County notes these can make a remote inspection unsuitable. Offline capture and a flashlight prevent most problems.
• Repeated revision rounds. In the SolarAPP+ pilot, a submission can be locked after repeated rounds and sent to an in-person inspection. Answer every item on the inspector's list completely the first time.

Tools: what to look for in a remote inspection workflow

The tools you use depend on how your agencies run their programs. Some use a dedicated portal, like the SolarAPP+ virtual inspection portal for asynchronous review. Others run live video through vendors such as VuSpex and Blitzz, both of which IREC interviewed for its report.

Whatever your agencies use, your own side of the workflow needs four things:

1. GPS and time stamped capture, so every photo proves where and when it was taken.
2. Checklists tied to photos, so nothing required gets skipped.
3. Offline capture, because roofs and attics often have no signal.
4. Job-based organization, so the full package is ready to submit or show when the inspection starts.

Blitzz covers both sides. Blitzz Inspect gives agencies and inspectors an app-free live video session, where the person on site opens a text link in a browser with no download or account. BlitzzCam gives installers verified, organized capture across every job, with permission-based links and branded reports for sharing.

FAQ

Which solar inspections can be done remotely?

It depends on the agency. Many programs cover the final inspection, and some cover rough-in as well. In the SolarAPP+ pilot, trenching, rough electrical, and fire inspections still happen in person.

Do I need live video or just photos?

That is set locally. Los Angeles County requires specific photos before a live stream, while the SolarAPP+ pilot reviews GPS-verified photos and videos asynchronously.

Are remote solar inspections safe?

The IREC report found evidence that remote inspection can improve code compliance and safety. A senior Los Angeles inspector quoted in the coverage said remote inspections have proven to be at least as safe as on-site ones.

The bottom line

For solar installers, remote inspection rewards crews that capture the right evidence while they build. The inspector can only approve what they can see, so a good checklist, proof of location, and photos taken at each stage are what turn final approval into a formality. Start a free BlitzzCam trial to capture GPS and time stamped photos on your next install, or book a Blitzz Inspect demo if you run an inspection program.