Removing and reinstalling solar panels for a new roof in Florida

Fixr puts the typical cost at about $200 to $300 per panel, or about $3,800 on average for a 15-panel system, with most jobs between $2,800 and $4,800. That doesn't include the new roof. Quotes vary widely: Angi lists up to $500 per panel, so get at least two.

Microinverter systems and tile roofs can add time, since each panel and attachment has to come off and be reflashed. See solar panels on a tile roof.

Usually, yes. Miami-Dade County requires a separate permit to reinstall an existing roof-mounted solar system, and that permit is needed to close out the roofing permit. Seminole County's reroof rules say a permit will be required to reinstall removed panels.

Rules vary by city and county, so call your building department before the roofer starts and ask for the reinstall permit number. A Pinellas County homeowner told WFLA he was left with a stack of panels months after paying for a reinstall that wasn't completed.

Tell them before work starts. FPL asks for a new net metering application 30 days before you add or remove panels, so a reinstall that changes the system needs paperwork. Ask your installer to handle the utility notice for FPL, Duke Energy Florida or Tampa Electric, and to confirm net metering is restored once the panels are back. See Florida net metering.

We found no panel maker that says removal itself voids the warranty, but warranties generally don't pay for the labor. Enphase's warranty has excluded removal and reinstall labor, and Tesla offers removal and reinstallation for its own customers if the roof line stays the same.

Hire the original installer if it's still in business, or a licensed solar or electrical contractor, rather than leaving the panels to the roofer. Ask how panels will be stored during the job, and test the system before final payment.

Often, yes. Panasonic notes the original racking can usually be reused but says to check with both the roofer and the solar installer, and many installers fit new attachment hardware on reinstall to avoid leaks in the new roof. Solar Builder notes shingle flashings should be at least 9 inches wide, and that skipping base flashing on tile roofs leads to leaks within five to 10 years.

While the panels are off, it's also the cheapest time to add critter guards around the array edges and to replace any damaged wiring clips. Ask for both in the reinstall quote.

If nothing about the system changes, the paperwork is light: FPL's net metering FAQ says detailed system information isn't needed when no panels are added or removed. If you add panels or a battery during the reroof, FPL asks you to get the new equipment inspected by your building department and upload the final permit, and going over 10 kW moves you into Tier 2. See solar over 10 kW.

Check your labor coverage too. Enphase's standard labor reimbursement for warranty service runs 2 years unless the installer bought a longer labor protection plan, so on an older system, labor to replace a failed microinverter found during the reinstall may be on you.

• Roof age and insurance. Florida law (s. 627.7011) bars insurers from refusing or nonrenewing a homeowners policy solely because the roof is under 15 years old; for older roofs, you can pay for an inspection before an insurer requires replacement. Florida's CFO advises getting insurance quotes before adding solar and having the roof inspected every few years.
• The 25% rule. Under a 2022 law (s. 553.844), a roof built to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later doesn't have to be fully replaced just because 25% or more needs repair.
• Add a battery while you're at it. If the panels are coming off anyway, it's a natural time to add panels or a battery, since it avoids a second removal later. See home battery cost in Florida.

See solar and home insurance in Florida for how insurers treat solar after a storm.