Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on canopies, charging, codes, and how a project runs.
Every question we answer on a first call, grouped by topic. Each answer links to the guide that goes deeper.
Solar carports
How many parking spaces does one canopy cover?
A LETO bay covers two spaces in a single row, about 18 feet wide. A TITAN bay covers four spaces, two rows nose to nose. Bays repeat side by side, so a row of ten LETO bays shades twenty spaces and a row of ten TITAN bays shades forty.
How much solar fits on a canopy?
Roughly 4 to 6 kW of modules per double-row TITAN bay and 2 to 3 kW per single-row LETO bay, depending on the module and tilt. A 100-space lot in a TITAN layout typically carries 125 to 150 kW. We size the array to the building's load and the utility's interconnection limits, not just to the available roof.
Does a carport count toward the Title 24 solar requirement?
Yes. Under the 2025 Energy Code, the solar access roof area that sizes the required PV system includes the roof area of carports and covered parking structures on the site. A canopy can carry the array when the building roof is shaded, mechanical-heavy, or too small.
What does a solar carport cost?
Installed commercial solar carports in California typically run in the range of $2.75 to $3.50 per watt, with the steel structure accounting for roughly half. Price per space drops sharply with row length because engineering, mobilization, and foundations are spread across more bays. A site evaluation returns a budget range for your lot.
Which incentives apply?
The federal Section 48E investment tax credit still pays 30 percent of a commercial solar system, but after the 2025 federal tax law a project that did not begin construction by July 4, 2026 must be placed in service by December 31, 2027 to claim it, so schedule matters; tax-exempt owners receive it as a direct payment through elective pay. Utility charger rebates such as LADWP's commercial program pay for much of the EV charging underneath when their enrollment windows are open. California does not offer a state income tax credit for solar canopies; the credit proposed in SB 49 was removed before the bill was enacted. Eligibility depends on the owner, the site, and the year; confirm with your tax advisor.
How long does installation take?
Once permits are in hand, foundations and steel for a typical 50 to 100 space lot take a few weeks, with the PV and electrical following. The bolted system with slide-in purlins is the main reason: no field welding, no welding inspections, and a short window per row.
Can you add EV chargers later?
Yes, and it is far cheaper to run the conduit during erection. We size the conduit and panel capacity for the number of chargers you expect over the life of the lot even if only a few are installed on day one.
Who is the contractor of record?
GreenSource Energy, a TESH Group company, is a licensed California contractor (CSLB #1018294). Design and permitting run through NAXA Design and steel through Cal Steel Modular, both TESH Group companies, with the canopy structures fabricated by our manufacturing partner in Commerce, California.
Is a solar carport more expensive than rooftop solar?
Yes, by roughly $1.00 per watt, because you are paying for a steel structure and foundations. The canopy makes sense when the roof is small, shaded, mechanical-heavy, or near the end of its life, when the parking lot needs shade or EV charging anyway, or when the Title 24 solar requirement cannot be met on the roof.
Does the price include EV charging?
Not in the per-watt ranges above. Chargers, their circuits, and any service upgrade are a separate line. Running the conduit in the steel during erection is inexpensive; the chargers themselves are often covered by utility rebates.
How accurate is a site evaluation budget?
Our site evaluation returns a budget range, typically within 15 to 20 percent, based on the lot layout, a preliminary array size, utility service, and the soil and wind conditions we can read from the site. Final pricing follows the geotechnical report and the engineered drawings.
Can LETO and TITAN be mixed on one lot?
Yes, and most lots are. Interior double rows take TITAN bays and the perimeter takes LETO bays, all in the same steel system and finish.
Which has more clearance?
Both are set to the project's required clearance, from 8 feet 6 inches to 15 feet. On a tilted canopy one edge is taller; we orient the tilt so the taller edge faces the vehicles that need it.
Which is better for EV charging?
Either. Chargers mount at the column line in both systems. A TITAN column serves vehicles in both rows, which is convenient for shared charging.
How deep are solar carport foundations?
Caissons for canopies are commonly 8 to 15 feet deep in Southern California soils, set by the geotechnical report, the wind speed, and the canopy geometry. Spread footings are shallow, 2 to 3 feet thick, but much wider.
Read: Solar carport foundations: caissons vs spread footings
Can a canopy be installed on an asphalt lot without replacing the paving?
Yes. Caissons are cored through the asphalt at each column; the paving around the column is patched after the pour. Spread footings remove more paving and are patched in the same way.
Read: Solar carport foundations: caissons vs spread footings
Do I need a geotechnical report?
Plan check will generally require one or an engineer's justification based on nearby data. We recommend one for every project; it usually reduces foundation cost by replacing conservative assumptions with measured values.
Read: Solar carport foundations: caissons vs spread footings
Codes & incentives
Does the solar requirement apply to a parking lot without a building?
No. Section 140.10 is triggered by a newly constructed building of a covered type. A standalone canopy on an existing lot is voluntary, though it still qualifies for the federal investment tax credit and utility incentives.
Read: Title 24's solar requirement and how carports count toward it
Can a canopy satisfy the whole requirement?
Yes, when the canopy roof area is large enough. The code requires the PV system to be sized to the lesser of the calculated requirement and what the SARA can support; a canopy over a large lot can carry the full requirement and more.
Read: Title 24's solar requirement and how carports count toward it
Does the requirement apply to major renovations?
The PV requirement applies to newly constructed buildings. Additions and alterations are governed by separate provisions; we review the specific scope with the energy consultant.
Read: Title 24's solar requirement and how carports count toward it
Does California have a state tax credit for solar canopies?
Not as of October 2026. A 5 percent state income tax credit for solar canopies was added to SB 49 in 2023 and removed before the bill was enacted. The federal Section 48E investment tax credit still applies to commercial canopies.
Read: SB 49 and the California solar canopy tax credit: what actually passed
What does SB 49 actually do?
As enacted (Chapter 379, Statutes of 2023), SB 49 directs Caltrans to evaluate the issues that impede renewable energy, storage, and transmission projects on state highway rights-of-way. It contains no incentive for private solar canopies.
Read: SB 49 and the California solar canopy tax credit: what actually passed
Is a new solar canopy exempt from California property tax?
Under Revenue and Taxation Code section 73, the value of a new active solar energy system is excluded from reassessment for solar construction completed before January 1, 2027 under current law. Confirm the treatment of your project with the county assessor.
Read: SB 49 and the California solar canopy tax credit: what actually passed
Does a solar carport qualify for the expedited solar permit in Los Angeles?
No. The expedited path is for small rooftop systems. A canopy is a structure and goes through standard plan check, though the structural package for a pre-engineered system is routine for the plan checker.
Who stamps the drawings?
A California-licensed civil or structural engineer stamps the structural drawings and calculations, and an electrical engineer stamps the electrical set when the jurisdiction or the project size requires it. Our manufacturing partner's systems come with engineering resources and pre-stamped certified letters that shorten this step.
How long until the system turns on?
For a typical commercial lot in Los Angeles, plan to be operating 6 to 9 months after the site evaluation, with the utility interconnection usually setting the pace.
EV charging
Do we need a service upgrade to add EV chargers?
Often not. California's Electrical Code (Section 625.42) lets an automatic load management system cap the combined charger load, so the service and feeders are sized to the managed maximum rather than to every charger at full power. A load study shows how much capacity you have before anything is designed.
Level 2 or DC fast charging?
Match the charger to how long cars stay. Where vehicles park for hours, Level 2 at 7 to 19 kW per port does the job at a fraction of the cost and service size. DC fast charging at 50 kW and up is for stops under an hour: retail, corridors, fleets between shifts, and dealership service lanes.
Can we charge drivers for using the chargers?
Yes. Networked, OCPP-compliant chargers let the owner price by the kilowatt-hour, by the hour, or by session, or offer charging free. In California, publicly available chargers that bill by the kilowatt-hour must use equipment approved for measurement accuracy under the state's CTEP program.
Which connector should we specify?
For Level 2, J1772 and J3400 both work: Teslas ship with a J1772 adapter, and many new EVs use J3400. For DC fast charging in 2026, specify dual-cable posts with J3400 and CCS1 so every vehicle charges without an adapter.
What rebates are available in Los Angeles?
LADWP's Commercial EV Charger Rebate Program has paid up to $5,000 per Level 2 charger and up to $125,000 per DC fast charger, in enrollment windows; LADWP lists the next one for October 2026. Outside LADWP territory, utility make-ready programs and the California Energy Commission's CALeVIP fund chargers when their rounds are open. We check eligibility before equipment is specified.
Do EV charging spaces have to be accessible?
Yes. The California Building Code requires a share of EV charging spaces to be accessible, with set space and access-aisle dimensions and reach ranges (Sections 11B-228.3 and 11B-812). We lay out the accessible spaces from the first drawing.
How long does an installation take?
On an existing service with no upgrade, a Level 2 project typically needs a few weeks of construction once the permit is issued. A service upgrade or a new transformer puts the utility on the critical path, often for months, so that application goes in first.
Can the canopy's solar power the chargers directly?
The canopy feeds the building's service, and the chargers draw from the same service, so the solar offsets charging load in the daytime. Direct DC coupling with storage is possible on fleet and fast-charging sites and is designed case by case.
How many chargers can a 100-space canopy support?
The structure can carry a charger at every column. The limit is the electrical service; with load management a 400-amp service can typically support several dozen Level 2 ports sharing capacity.
Do apartment owners have to install chargers now?
For new construction under the 2025 CALGreen code, yes: assigned spaces must be EV Ready and a share of common spaces must have chargers. Existing buildings are not required to retrofit, but utility rebates make it attractive.
Charging engineering
What is a load study, and do we need one?
It establishes how much of the existing service is already in use. California's Electrical Code (Section 220.87) lets the engineer use the highest 15-minute demand from 12 months of utility data, or a recording of at least 30 days when a year of data is not available. Most multi-port projects start with one.
Do we need engineered drawings for a Level 2 installation?
Small installations on an existing panel are often permitted with a contractor's plan. Multi-port sites, service upgrades, DC fast charging, public sites, and anything that needs a utility application usually call for engineered drawings, and many jurisdictions require them for plan check.
How does load management change the design?
California's Electrical Code (Section 625.42) lets an automatic load management system set the maximum load used to size the service and feeders. That often turns a project that looked like it needed a new service into one that fits the existing service.
Can you design for chargers we add later?
Yes, and it is the cheapest time to do it. We size conduit, pull boxes, switchgear space, and transformer pads for the build-out you expect, so later phases add chargers without trenching the lot again.
Who is the engineer of record?
A licensed professional engineer at our engineering partner stamps the drawings and answers plan-check comments. GreenSource manages the design schedule and, on design-build projects, builds what is designed.
Do you engineer projects outside California?
Our engineering partner is licensed across more than forty states for design-only work. GreenSource builds in California.
Tesla charging
Can any business get a Tesla Supercharger?
To host a Tesla-owned site, no: Tesla selects host sites against its network plan. Since September 2025, though, any business can buy Superchargers through Tesla's Supercharger for Business program, with a minimum order of four posts, and hire its own installer. Destination Charging and owner-installed NACS chargers are also available to any property.
Read: Tesla charging stations for your business: the four ways in
Do I need Tesla hardware to charge Teslas?
No. Any charger with a J3400 (NACS) connector charges a Tesla natively, and Teslas can use J1772 Level 2 chargers with the adapter every Tesla ships with. Many owners choose non-Tesla networked hardware for billing flexibility and rebate eligibility.
Read: Tesla charging stations for your business: the four ways in
Can GreenSource apply to Tesla for me?
The site host application is made by the property owner. We prepare the site information Tesla asks for, including utility capacity, stall layout, and access, and we handle the engineering and construction on the host's side of the project.
Read: Tesla charging stations for your business: the four ways in
Does Tesla pay rent to Supercharger hosts?
Terms vary by site and program. Some hosts receive lease payments; many host primarily for the traffic and dwell time. Tesla's current program terms govern.
How many parking spaces does a Supercharger site take?
Commonly eight to sixteen stalls plus the equipment area for cabinets, switchgear, and a transformer. Larger corridor sites run to dozens of stalls.
Can a Supercharger site have a solar canopy?
Yes. The canopy is the host's structure and is designed around the charging equipment and cable reach. Several Supercharger sites have canopies; the host usually owns the canopy and its solar production.
What if Tesla does not select my site?
Tesla's Supercharger for Business program, launched in September 2025, lets a business buy Superchargers outright, with a minimum order of four posts, hire its own installer, and have Tesla operate and service them. It does not depend on Tesla's host site selection.
What is Tesla Supercharger for Business?
A Tesla program launched in September 2025 that lets a business buy white-labeled Supercharger posts for its own property, hire its own installer, set its own prices, and keep the revenue, while Tesla operates and services the chargers. Sites appear in Tesla's in-car navigation.
Read: Tesla Supercharger for Business: what you buy, what you build, what Tesla runs
How many Superchargers do I have to buy?
Tesla's program page lists a minimum purchase of four charging posts. A V4 cabinet is designed to serve up to eight posts.
Read: Tesla Supercharger for Business: what you buy, what you build, what Tesla runs
Who installs Supercharger for Business posts?
The owner hires its own installer, and a Tesla design engineer is available to guide the project. The installer builds the electrical service, pads, foundations, conduit, accessible stalls, lighting, and permits.
Read: Tesla Supercharger for Business: what you buy, what you build, what Tesla runs
Do non-Tesla EVs work at these Superchargers?
Tesla describes Supercharger for Business posts as compatible with all EVs, so the site serves more than Tesla drivers.
Read: Tesla Supercharger for Business: what you buy, what you build, what Tesla runs
Should I install NACS or J1772 chargers at my apartment building?
For Level 2, either works with adapters. We recommend networked hardware from a manufacturer that offers both connectors on the same platform so cables can be changed as the resident vehicle mix shifts.
Read: NACS / J3400: what the Tesla connector means for commercial charging
Do I need both connectors on a DC fast charger?
In 2026, yes. Dual-cable posts with J3400 and CCS1 serve every vehicle natively. Single-connector fast chargers will strand part of the market for years.
Read: NACS / J3400: what the Tesla connector means for commercial charging
Can a Tesla use a non-Tesla charger?
Yes. Teslas charge on J1772 Level 2 with the included adapter and on CCS1 fast chargers with a Tesla adapter, and natively on any J3400 charger.
Read: NACS / J3400: what the Tesla connector means for commercial charging
How many Wall Connectors can share one circuit?
Tesla's power sharing supports several units on a single circuit, coordinating so the combined draw stays within the circuit's rating. The design sets the group size from the available capacity and the charging experience the host wants.
Can non-Tesla cars use a Wall Connector?
Yes, with the Universal Wall Connector, which includes a built-in J1772 adapter, or with a driver's own adapter on the standard unit.
Do I need a service upgrade?
Often not. A load study usually finds unused capacity, and power sharing keeps the charging load inside it. Large installations or buildings already near capacity may need an upgrade, which the utility delivers on its own timeline.
Markets
Can the canopy power individual apartments?
Through virtual net metering, a multifamily solar system can allocate credits to tenant meters. More commonly the canopy offsets common-area meters and chargers; we model both and recommend based on the property's load and rate structure.
How much parking is lost during construction?
One row at a time. A typical row is closed for one to two weeks across foundations, steel, and modules, and we phase rows so most parking stays open.
Do residents pay for charging?
That is the owner's choice. Networked chargers can bill residents by the kWh, bundle charging into rent, or offer it free as an amenity.
Will a canopy block the view of inventory from the street?
Clearance is 8 feet 6 inches or more, so the sightline to the cars stays open. Many dealers find the canopy frames the front row and improves the street presentation.
Can construction happen while the dealership operates?
Yes. Rows are phased so inventory moves one row at a time, and foundations and steel for a row take days, not weeks.
Is the canopy considered a sign?
Fascia branding is usually reviewed under the sign code; the canopy itself is a structure. We coordinate both with the city during permitting.
Can a school district use the federal tax credit?
Through elective pay, a tax-exempt entity can receive the value of the credit as a direct payment, subject to the current construction and placed-in-service deadlines. Confirm with the district's counsel and financial advisor.
Read: Solar carports for schools, cities, and public agencies
Do school canopies need DSA approval?
Yes. K-12 and community college construction in California is reviewed by the Division of the State Architect, including canopies. We engineer to DSA requirements for those projects.
Read: Solar carports for schools, cities, and public agencies
Can the canopy support fleet charging for buses?
Yes. Clearance up to 15 feet accommodates transit vehicles, and the structure can carry overhead or pedestal charging equipment with the appropriate electrical design.
Read: Solar carports for schools, cities, and public agencies
Working with GreenSource
What does a site evaluation include and what does it cost?
It is free. Send the address and a rough space count. We review the lot layout, utility service, soils and wind exposure we can read from the site, and return a canopy layout, a preliminary array size, and a budget range you can take to a board or a lender.
Who is the contractor of record?
GreenSource Energy, the energy-systems line of TESH Group, operating under Green Source Energy Inc., California contractor license #1018294. Design and permitting run through NAXA Design and steel through Cal Steel Modular, both TESH Group companies.
Who makes the canopy structures?
The LETO and TITAN systems are fabricated by our manufacturing partner, Orion Carport Systems & Construction, in Commerce, California. GreenSource designs the project, pours the foundations, erects the steel, and installs the PV, lighting, and charging.
Where do you work?
Southern California directly, from Tarzana, with partner coverage across the state. Our charging-station engineering partner is licensed across more than forty states for design-only work.
Do you work with general contractors and architects?
Yes. Many canopy and charging projects come to us from GCs and architects who want one subcontractor to carry the structure, the electrical, and the permits. We also support design teams at schematic design with layouts and budget ranges.
How do I get the cut sheets and engineering samples?
Ask through the contact form and tell us which system you are evaluating. We share the LETO and TITAN brochures, HSS base templates, caisson and spread-footing detail samples, the site evaluation form, and the operations and maintenance guide.
Still a question
Ask it with the address attached and we answer it against your lot.
Tesla, Supercharger, Wall Connector, and Destination Charging are trademarks of Tesla, Inc. GreenSource Energy is an independent licensed contractor and engineering partner and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Tesla, Inc. Program terms described here are Tesla's and change without notice; confirm current terms with Tesla.