Between 2023 and 2025, 59 companies pulled 3,905 permits for solar panels on homes in Chicago. Sunrun pulled the most (1,689, or 43%), followed by Bright Planet Solar (405) and Fresh Coast Solar (150). Every company in the ranking was still pulling permits in 2025; installers that have since closed are left out.
This ranking counts residential solar permits issued in the city, not finished installations: a few permits are never completed, and the permit is filed by the licensed company doing the work, which is usually but not always the company that sold the system. Permit records don't include prices or whether a system is leased.
Top 10 Solar Companies in Chicago by Home Solar Permits
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Serves Chicago, IL · no office address listed
Sunrun has pulled solar permits in Chicago since at least 2023. It is also among the top installers in 107 other cities we rank, including New York City, NY and Bakersfield, CA.
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Serves Chicago, IL · no office address listed
- Typical system
- 6.0 kW
Bright Planet Solar has pulled solar permits in Chicago since at least 2023. It is also among the top installers in 69 other cities we rank, including Stockton, CA and Chula Vista, CA.
- Map & reviews ↗
Fresh Coast Solar
- (312) 281-6501
- freshcoastsolar.com
- 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614
- Typical system
- 6.8 kW
Fresh Coast Solar has pulled solar permits in Chicago since at least 2023.
- Map & reviews ↗
Windfree Wind + Solar Energy Design Company
Serves Chicago, IL · no office address listed
- Typical system
- 6.0 kW
Windfree Wind + Solar Energy Design Company has pulled solar permits in Chicago since at least 2023.
- Map & reviews ↗
LGCY Power
- (855) 502-0485
- lgcypower.com
- 1617 Groth St, Springfield, IL 62703
- Typical system
- 5.2 kW
LGCY Power has pulled solar permits in Chicago since at least 2024.
- Map & reviews ↗
Certasun
- (312) 638-0800
- certasun.com
- 1582 Barclay Blvd, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
- Typical system
- 6.8 kW
Certasun has pulled solar permits in Chicago since at least 2023.
- Map & reviews ↗
Source Solar
- (773) 985-3992
- solarroof.energy
- 5710 N Northwest Hwy, Chicago, IL 60646
- Typical system
- 7.8 kW
Source Solar has pulled solar permits in Chicago since at least 2023.
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Serves Chicago, IL · no office address listed
- Typical system
- 11.4 kW
ION Developer has pulled solar permits in Chicago since at least 2024. It is also among the top installers in 5 other cities we rank, including Santa Fe, NM and Las Vegas, NV.
- Map & reviews ↗
Tron Solar
- (800) 484-8766
- tron.solar
- 50 Lakeview Pkwy, Vernon Hills, IL 60061
- Typical system
- 7.4 kW
Tron Solar has pulled solar permits in Chicago since at least 2023.
- Map & reviews ↗
Free World
- (312) 585-7731
- freeworldsolar.com
- 400 N Hermitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
- Typical system
- 7.6 kW
Free World has pulled solar permits in Chicago since at least 2023.
Comparing quotes in Chicago?
Divide each quote's total, before incentives, by the system size in watts. Ask at least three of the companies above to quote the same system size. Reject any 2026 quote that subtracts a 30% federal tax credit from a purchase: that credit ended in 2025.
How to check a solar quote →Home Solar in Chicago by the Numbers
Based on 3,905 residential solar permits issued in Chicago between 2023 and 2025, from the City of Chicago's open data.
Home solar permits per year
2026: 1,034 permits in the records so far. The year isn't complete, so it isn't counted in the ranking.
Home Solar Across Illinois
City permits record who installed each system, but not what it cost or whether it was leased. For that, here is the picture across Illinois.
Utilities in Illinois reported 123,606 homes with rooftop solar in July 2026, averaging 9.2 kW per home. That is 17,052 more than a year earlier (+16%). Illinois ranks 11 of 44 states by homes with solar.
In Illinois utility and state program records for 2023–2025, the typical system was 9.0 kW and 55% were leased or on a power purchase agreement.
Homes with solar: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861M, net metering (homes enrolled in net metering or a similar program).
Solar Panel Repair in Chicago
When a system stops producing, the best first call is an established local company. The companies ranked above pulled permits in Chicago through 2025, so they know the equipment on local roofs. Many will service a system they didn't install, but not all — ask before you book, and expect a diagnostic fee.
Checks to do before you call anyone: solar troubleshooting guide. Storm damage, a roof leak or a burning smell: what to do first.
Installers That Closed or Went Bankrupt in Chicago
Companies that have since closed, liquidated or filed for bankruptcy pulled 333 home solar permits in Chicago since 2019. They are left out of the ranking above. If one of them installed your system, its workmanship warranty is likely gone — but panel and inverter warranties come from the manufacturer and usually survive the installer.
- Freedom Forever292 permits in Chicago
Filed for Chapter 11 in April 2026; converted to Chapter 7 liquidation in August 2026. Source: pv magazine USA
- Titan Solar41 permits in Chicago
Ceased operations and filed for Chapter 7 in June 2024. Source: PV Tech
- Bak Builder And Remodeler72 permits in Chicago
No solar permits in Chicago after 2024 (records run through 2025). That does not by itself mean the company closed — check before relying on it for service.
- Sunpower Corporation Systems34 permits in Chicago
No solar permits in Chicago after 2024 (records run through 2025). That does not by itself mean the company closed — check before relying on it for service.
- Revolution Energy Systems23 permits in Chicago
No solar permits in Chicago after 2023 (records run through 2025). That does not by itself mean the company closed — check before relying on it for service.
See the full list of solar companies that went out of business and what still works if yours is one of them.
Solar in Chicago: Common Questions
Who installs the most solar panels in Chicago?
In the three most recent complete years (2023–2025), Sunrun pulled 1,689 permits for solar on homes in Chicago, more than any other company. Bright Planet Solar (405) and Fresh Coast Solar (150) came next. Volume shows local experience, not workmanship, so compare quotes and reviews before choosing.
Who repairs solar panels in Chicago?
Start with the companies in the ranking above: Sunrun, Bright Planet Solar and Fresh Coast Solar did the most work here, and an installer that knows the equipment on local roofs can usually diagnose a fault faster. If your system was leased or is on a PPA, call the company you pay each month first — maintenance is normally its job.
Can I still get the federal solar tax credit in 2026?
Not as a homeowner buying the system: the 30% residential credit (Section 25D) ended on December 31, 2025. Be wary of any quote that still subtracts it from the price. See our 2026 solar tax credit guide for what's left.
What if my solar installer went out of business?
Your panels and inverters are still covered by their manufacturers' warranties; what you lose is the installer's workmanship and roof-leak warranty. If the system is leased or on a PPA, the company you pay each month is usually responsible for repairs, and any active company in the ranking can take over service. See the installers that closed in Chicago and what still works when an installer closes.
What do homeowners in Chicago pay for electricity?
Residential customers in Illinois pay an average of 19.89¢ per kWh, 14% above the national average. The higher the rate, the faster solar pays for itself. Source: EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A.
No company pays to be listed or to rank higher, and any ad on this site is labeled. Before you sign, confirm the contractor license, insurance and recent reviews, and get at least three quotes. If a company in Chicago has closed, moved or changed its phone number, tell us and we'll check it.
How This Ranking Works
Companies are ranked by the residential solar permits they pulled here in 2023–2025, counting one permit per address per year; each needs at least 10 permits and at least one in 2025. Closed or bankrupt companies are removed and listed separately. The count shows local experience, not workmanship or service.
Source: Building Permits, City of Chicago (open data). Company names standardized and closures checked against news reports by Solar Power Fix. More about our methodology.
Solar system not producing in Chicago?
The checks to do before you call anyone: the inverter screen, the breakers, the monitoring app and what each error code means.