How Long Does Solar Take on Long Island?
The install is the fast part. Here's the whole timeline, including permit times town by town.
By Steve Maroney, founder of Power House Home Energy · Updated October 2026
Most Long Island solar projects take about 2–3 months from signing to turning the system on. Town permits take 2 to 8 weeks depending on where you live, PSEG Long Island approves the connection before install, and the install itself usually takes one day (one to two for large systems, two to three with a battery). After a final inspection, PSEG Long Island issues Permission to Operate and your system turns on. We handle every permit and every piece of PSEG paperwork.
The steps, start to finish
| Step | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Design | Satellite roof and shade analysis, system design and your proposal | Starts right away |
| 2. Permits | We file with your town or village building department | 2–8 weeks, by town (below) |
| 3. PSEG Long Island approval | Interconnection approval, required before install | Alongside permits |
| 4. Install | Panels, wiring and equipment | 1 day (large systems 1–2; with battery 2–3) |
| 5. Inspection and PTO | Final inspection, then PSEG Long Island's Permission to Operate | Your system turns on |
Permit times by town
| Where you live | Typical permit time |
|---|---|
| Town of Smithtown | 3–5 weeks (village review boards can add a couple of weeks) |
| Town of Islip | 3–5 weeks |
| Town of Brookhaven | 4–6 weeks |
| Town of Huntington | 4–6 weeks |
| Town of Hempstead | 2–4 weeks |
| Town of Oyster Bay | 2–4 weeks |
| Town of North Hempstead | 6–8 weeks |
| New York City (all five boroughs) | 5–8 weeks with the NYC Department of Buildings, plus Con Edison approval |
| Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess | 3–8 weeks, depending on the town or village |
| Babylon, Riverhead, the East End and Shelter Island | Varies by town and village; we give you the timeline for your address up front |
Homes inside an incorporated village go through that village's building department instead of the town's. Historic districts, homeowners' associations and design review boards can add a review step, and we prepare the drawings and paperwork they ask for.
Install days, by project
Solar
One day for most homes; one to two days for large systems.
Solar with a battery
Two to three days.
New roof
A typical roof replacement takes one day, usually right before the solar install.
Heat pump
A heat pump install typically takes one day.
“Steve is an expert in his field and made it very easy to understand all of our options and go with what was best for us. The customer service term was a breeze to work with, including setting up the required inspections and paperwork. The installation was done expertly and in total only took a couple of hours. We love the slim look of the panels compared to others we have seen in our neighborhood. It's also a lot of fun checking the app to see the rates of energy being generated and delivered to the grid in real time. I would strongly recommend getting your solar from Power House.”
Mike · Islip, NY · Google reviewWhat can slow things down
We file as early as possible and tell you about any of these up front, so there are no surprises.
Common questions
How long does it take to get solar on Long Island?
Usually about 2–3 months from signing to turning the system on. Town permits take 2 to 8 weeks depending on where you live, PSEG Long Island approves the connection before install, and the install itself usually takes one day.
How long does a solar installation take?
Most residential solar installs take one day. Large systems take one to two days, and systems with battery backup take two to three days.
How long do solar permits take in my town?
Typical times: Smithtown and Islip 3–5 weeks; Brookhaven and Huntington 4–6 weeks; Hempstead and Oyster Bay 2–4 weeks; North Hempstead 6–8 weeks; New York City 5–8 weeks; Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess 3–8 weeks.
What is PTO?
Permission to Operate is the final approval from PSEG Long Island, or your utility, after inspection. Once you have it, your solar system can turn on and start saving.