SANTA ANA, CA · SOLAR ROOFING COORDINATION · CSLB C-39 LICENSED
Solar Panel Removal & Reinstallation in Santa Ana — What Reroofing with Solar Actually Costs
We’ve been on a lot of Santa Ana roofs since 2003, and more and more of them have solar panels. That changes the job completely — and not every roofer knows how to handle it. If you’ve got panels and need a new roof, or your existing roof under those panels is failing, here’s exactly what you’re getting into: the process, the coordination, the permits, and what it’ll cost in Orange County right now.
$1,500–$4,000
Typical solar R&R cost in Santa Ana (separate from roofing)
1–3 days
System offline during removal, roofing work, and reinstallation
2 permits
Roofing permit + electrical/solar permit — City of Santa Ana
✓ CSLB C-39 Licensed✓ OC Permitted Every Job✓ Free Written Estimates
Why Can’t You Just Roof Around the Solar Panels?
I get asked this every time. And I understand why — homeowners see dollar signs when I say the panels have to come down. But here’s why you can’t skip it: the panels are bolted through your roof deck with lag screws, and the flashings around those penetrations need to be replaced along with the rest of the roofing material. If we leave them in place and try to install new shingles or tile around them, those old penetrations become your first leak point within a year or two.
There’s also a code issue. The City of Santa Ana Building Division requires a full roofing permit for any reroof. When inspectors see active solar panels on a roof mid-job, they flag it — you can’t pass a final inspection with incompletely sealed penetrations hidden under a panel array. So the panels have to come off, we reroof clean, close every penetration properly, and the solar company reinstalls to current spec.
It adds complexity and cost, no question. But it’s also the only way to do it right. A new roof is a 20–30 year investment. Cutting a corner on the solar penetrations is how you end up with water damage inside your attic three years later.
What about partial re-roofs?
If only a section of your roof is failing and the panels are on a different section, sometimes we can scope work so the array stays put. This requires a site-specific inspection. Call us at (657) 354-1284 and we’ll tell you honestly whether that’s feasible for your roof.
The Solar Roof R&R Process — Step by Step
Here’s what a properly coordinated solar removal and reinstallation project looks like in Santa Ana:
STEP 1
Roof Inspection & Coordination Call
We inspect your roof and document the panel layout, mounting hardware, and the condition of existing flashings. We confirm which solar company installed your system and reach out to coordinate their R&R schedule with our roofing timeline. If your installer is no longer in business (common with companies that went under post-2020), we work with a licensed electrical contractor to handle the removal.
STEP 2
Permits Pulled — Both Trades
We pull the roofing permit through the City of Santa Ana Building Division (online portal or in-person at 20 Civic Center Plaza). The solar company or electrical sub pulls a separate electrical permit for the system disconnect, removal, and reinstallation. Both permits need to be active before any work starts on your roof deck. This typically takes 3–7 business days in Santa Ana.
STEP 3
Solar Company Disconnects & Removes Panels
The solar technicians disconnect the system from the grid (SCE utility shutoff or on-site disconnect), label every wire, and carefully remove each panel. Panels are typically stacked safely on the ground — not left on the roof edge — and the mounting rails and lag bolts are removed. The holes left by the lag screws in your deck are left exposed for us to address during roofing.
STEP 4
Reroofing — Full Deck Exposed & Addressed
Now we have full access to every square foot. Old material comes off, deck is inspected and repaired where needed, and we close every old lag penetration with injected sealant and a proper wood plug before new underlayment goes down. The new roofing material — whether that’s architectural shingles, tile, or flat membrane — is installed clean with fresh flashings at every valley, hip, and penetration. No shortcuts hiding under panels.
STEP 5
Roofing Inspection Passed
City inspector comes out and signs off on the roofing work before any solar reinstallation begins. This is non-negotiable. The roofing permit closes first, then the solar permit opens its reinstallation phase.
STEP 6
Solar Reinstallation & Grid Reconnection
The solar company returns, mounts new rails using new lag bolts into fresh penetrations (properly flashed into your new roofing), re-hangs the panels, reconnects all wiring, and schedules the SCE interconnect inspection. Systems on NEM 2.0 grandfather status need to maintain their configuration to preserve those rates — we make sure the reinstall doesn’t change system specs in ways that could trigger a NEM 3.0 reclassification.
What Does Solar Removal & Reinstallation Cost in Santa Ana?
The R&R (remove and reinstall) is a separate line item from the roofing job itself. Here’s what you’re looking at in Orange County as of 2024–2025:
| System Size | Typical Panel Count | R&R Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (4–6 kW) | 12–18 panels | $1,500–$2,200 | Common in 92703 tract homes |
| Medium (7–10 kW) | 20–30 panels | $2,200–$3,200 | Most common size in Santa Ana |
| Large (11–15 kW) | 30–45 panels | $3,000–$4,500 | Larger homes, multiple roof planes |
| Battery add-on (Powerwall, Enphase) | N/A | +$300–$800 | Extra disconnect/reconnect time |
These are solar-company charges, not roofing charges. Roofing is priced separately. Flat roofs with ballasted solar (panels held down by weight, no penetrations) can sometimes be partial-disconnects only, which may reduce the R&R cost — ask your solar company to assess specifically.
Who Should You Call First — Roofer or Solar Company?
Call us first. We need to assess the roof condition and scope the job before the solar company can schedule their R&R — the roofing timeline drives everything. If you call the solar company first, they’ll schedule an R&R date, and then when you call us we might not be available that week, which means your panels sit in your driveway longer than necessary. Start with the roofer, coordinate with solar around our schedule.
NEM 2.0, NEM 3.0, and Your Reroofing Project
If you installed solar before April 2023 and are on NEM 2.0 through Southern California Edison, you’re sitting on a valuable export rate — sometimes 3–4x what NEM 3.0 pays. Reroofing does not automatically change your NEM status. Your system gets removed, reinstalled on the same home, same inverter, and reconnected. As long as you’re not changing system size or upgrading to a battery for the first time (which can trigger a new interconnection agreement), you should maintain NEM 2.0.
However, if the solar company needs to file a new interconnection application for any reason — damaged equipment that needs replacement, system redesign — SCE may evaluate you under current NEM 3.0 rules. We’ve seen this catch homeowners off guard. Make sure your solar contractor confirms in writing that they’re handling a same-spec reinstallation under your existing interconnection agreement, not filing a new one.
Important — Grandfathering Question to Ask Your Solar Company
“Will this reinstallation require a new SCE interconnection application, or will it use our existing agreement?” Get the answer in writing before you sign the R&R contract. The dollar difference between NEM 2.0 and NEM 3.0 payback rates can be $1,000+ per year over the life of your system.
Choosing the Right Roofing Material When You Have Solar
Not all roofing materials work equally well under solar panels. Here’s what we recommend for Santa Ana homes getting reroofed with an existing or planned solar array:
✓ Architectural Shingles
Best value option under solar. Flat mounting surface makes rail installation straightforward. 30-year shingles give you a service life that should outlast most solar systems. Most common choice in 92703 and 92704 tract homes. Cost: $9,000–$16,000 for most Santa Ana homes.
✓ Concrete or Clay Tile
Works well but requires specialized mounting hardware — rail feet must bear on the tile’s high point, not the valley, and tile cutouts must be made for the feet. Adds cost to the solar R&R. The 50-year tile lifespan pairs well with solar’s 25-year warranty period. Common on 92701 older homes near downtown. See our tile roofing page for more on general tile compatibility.
✓ TPO / Flat Membrane
On flat or low-slope roofs, ballasted panel systems (no penetrations) can sometimes be reinstalled without a full tearoff of the solar mounts. Mechanically-attached TPO works well with penetrating systems too. Common on commercial buildings along Bristol and First Street in Santa Ana.
✗ Wood Shake
California fire codes have made real wood shake very difficult to permit in most of Orange County, and most solar companies won’t guarantee their flashings against organic wood shake that will expand, contract, and degrade. Avoid this combination. Composite alternatives like DaVinci or CeDUR panels work fine.
What If My Solar Installer Is Out of Business?
This comes up more than it should. Several solar companies that were active in Santa Ana and Orange County between 2018 and 2022 are no longer in business — Sungevity, Petersen Dean, Pink Energy, Vivint Solar (acquired), and others. If your original installer is gone, you have options:
Any CSLB C-10 (electrical) licensed contractor can handle the disconnect, removal, and reinstallation — they don’t need to be your original installer. You’ll want someone who has done solar R&R work before, not just general electrical. We have working relationships with qualified electrical subs who specialize in exactly this situation in Santa Ana.
Also check whether your original system came with a workmanship warranty that transferred to a new company — some acquisitions (like Sunrun acquiring Vivint) maintained existing warranties. Worth a quick check before you pay for R&R work that might be covered.
Frequently Asked Questions — Solar Panel Reroofing in Santa Ana
How long will my solar be offline during a reroof?
Typically 2–4 days total — one day for solar removal, one to two days for roofing (depending on roof size and condition), and one day for solar reinstallation. If the city inspection takes a day to schedule, add that. Summer months in Santa Ana with high AC bills are the worst time to plan this; if you can, schedule for spring or fall when the bill impact is lower.
Will my homeowner’s insurance cover the solar R&R cost during a reroof?
If you’re reroofing due to wind damage or another covered event, most policies will include the solar R&R as part of the claim — because the panels have to come off to do the work the claim covers. Document it in your initial adjuster meeting. If you’re reroofing due to age and wear, it’s a homeowner expense. Some solar-specific warranties and leasing companies have provisions for R&R during reroof — check your original solar agreement.
I lease my solar panels. Does the leasing company handle the R&R?
Most solar leases (Sunrun, SunPower, Tesla Energy) have a provision for R&R during a full roof replacement — the leasing company handles the removal and reinstallation because the system is their equipment. Contact your leasing company’s service line and tell them you’re reroofing. They’ll schedule the R&R. You typically won’t pay for it separately (it’s covered under the lease terms), but confirm this in writing before agreeing to the reroofing schedule.
Can I add more panels when they go back up after the reroof?
Yes, but understand the NEM implications. Adding panels typically requires a new or amended interconnection application with SCE — which means your export rate could be re-evaluated. If you’re on NEM 2.0 and the system expansion requires a new application, you may end up with the expanded capacity on NEM 3.0 rates. Run this by your solar company and SCE before committing to expansion during reroof.
What if a panel gets damaged during removal or reinstallation?
This should be covered by the solar company’s insurance, not yours. Before they start removal, confirm they carry general liability insurance and that their policy covers panel damage during R&R work. Ask for their certificate of insurance. A reputable solar contractor won’t hesitate to provide it. If a panel breaks during removal (it happens — silicone cells are fragile), a good contractor replaces it and doesn’t pass that cost to you.
Ready to Coordinate Your Solar Reroof in Santa Ana?
We’ve done this enough times to know all the coordination points that go wrong — the permit sequencing, the SCE scheduling, the NEM questions — and we manage it so you don’t have to. Call us at (657) 354-1284 or use the form below to schedule a solar reroof assessment. We serve all of Santa Ana including 92701, 92703, 92704, and 92705, plus surrounding Orange County communities.
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Solar panel removal and reinstallation coordinated with your roof replacement, across Santa Ana.
All Santa Ana zip codes — 92701 · 92703 · 92704 · 92705 · 92706 · 92707 · 92708. CSLB C-39 Licensed. OC Permitted every job. Free written estimates.