The City of Overland Park extended and expanded its program that encourages solar energy and electric vehicle readiness construction.
The program provides discounts on solar-ready and electric vehicle-ready projects.
“Solar-ready zones” are designated areas on a building’s roof for the installation of solar panels. “Electric-vehicle-ready” projects are designed to accommodate wired circuits that can be used to charge electric vehicles.
Homeowners, landlords and builders can take advantage of a discount on a building permit for these projects if they plan to incorporate these renewable energy readiness options into their buildings. Solar readiness and EV projects on new and existing homes qualify.
Building permit fees will be waived for homeowners and landlords who want to retrofit their homes with EV charging circuits. Builders can also purchase building permits at a reduced fee if they construct their projects as solar-ready or electric-vehicle-ready. That means they’ve prepared their projects for future installation of solar panels and EV charging.
The City also expanded the program to include solar retrofit permits, meaning you qualify for a 50 percent discount on the permit fee if you’re adding a solar energy system to an existing home or building.
For builders, building permit discounts start at $500. You can find a listing of the discounts below.
| Type of Project | Built Into New Single-Family Homes, Duplexes and Townhomes | Built Into New Multi-Family Developments |
| Solar-Ready | Fee reduced by $600 | Fee reduced by 10 percent (if added to at least half of the buildings) |
| EV-Ready | Fee reduced by $500 | The discount is determined by the number of EV spaces required. |
For a one- or two-family residence to be electric vehicle-ready, there must be at least one completely wired 40-amp or larger circuit per dwelling unit. For a home to be solar-ready, the “solar-ready zone” must be located in the south-facing roof area and be free of obstructions or shading.
The solar-ready and electric vehicle-ready program was launched as a pilot in 2021, aiming to inspire the construction of buildings that support renewable energy in Overland Park.
The program now extends through Dec. 31, 2027.
If you’re considering applying for a permit at a reduced fee, please contact Planning and Development Services’ Building Safety Division at 913-895-6225 to discuss your project.