Solar Labeling Requirements: NEC 690 and 705 Label Guide
Solar labeling requirements come mainly from NEC Articles 690 and 705, with Article 706 adding markings for energy storage. Together they cover rapid shutdown placards, disconnect labels, DC circuit markings, and the service equipment labels that identify every power source on site.
A strong plan set can still fail review over labels. A missing rapid shutdown label, a vague service equipment note, or ESS warning labels left off a storage job can trigger redlines even when the electrical design is solid.
Below you'll find the exact wording for common NEC 690 labels, the NEC 705.10 directory rules, the most frequent solar placard redlines, and a pre-submittal checklist.
GreenLancer helps solar contractors with permit-ready plan sets, engineering reviews, and project documentation for residential PV and energy storage projects. If your team needs support with solar permitting details like labeling, disconnect coordination, and code-driven plan revisions, GreenLancer can help.
What Solar Labels Are Required for a Permit?
Solar permit packages commonly include rapid shutdown markings, power source directories, PV and system disconnect labels, DC circuit or conductor markings, inverter or equipment identification, and multiple power source warnings. Solar-plus-storage projects can require additional ESS signage and disconnect identification. The exact solar labeling requirements depend on system configuration, adopted NEC edition, manufacturer instructions, AHJ, and utility.
Common NEC Solar Labeling Requirements: 2020 vs. 2023
The table below covers the NEC 690 labels and Article 705 markings that appear most often on residential PV permits. It isn't exhaustive. The wording column notes whether text is prescribed, allows equivalent wording, or only requires specific information.
Label or Marking | 2020 NEC | 2023 NEC | Placement | Required Wording or Information |
Rapid shutdown building placard | 690.56(C) | 690.12(D) | Each service equipment location or approved readily visible location | Prescribed wording plus a simple roof diagram showing initiation device locations. See the rapid shutdown section below for complete wording by edition. |
Rapid shutdown switch label | 690.56(C)(2) | 690.12(D)(2) | On or within 1 m (3 ft) of the initiation device | Prescribed: RAPID SHUTDOWN SWITCH FOR SOLAR PV SYSTEM |
PV system disconnect | 690.13(B) | 690.13(B) | Each PV system disconnecting means | PV SYSTEM DISCONNECT or equivalent |
Line and load side warning | 690.13(B) | 690.13(B) | Disconnects where terminals may be energized in the open position | WARNING: ELECTRIC SHOCK HAZARD. TERMINALS ON THE LINE AND LOAD SIDES MAY BE ENERGIZED IN THE OPEN POSITION, or equivalent |
Maximum DC voltage | 690.53 | 690.7(D) | DC PV disconnect, PV power conversion equipment, or associated distribution equipment | Information: highest maximum DC voltage calculated per 690.7 |
PV DC circuit identification | 690.31(D)(2) | 690.31(D)(2) | Exposed raceways, enclosures, and cable assemblies | Prescribed: SOLAR PV DC CIRCUIT or PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SOURCE |
Power source directory | 705.10 | 705.10 | Each service equipment location or approved readily visible location | Information: location of each power source disconnect, plus CAUTION: MULTIPLE SOURCES OF POWER where applicable. The 2023 edition adds emergency contact numbers. |
Backfed breaker warning (120% rule) | 705.12(B)(3)(2) | 705.12(B)(2) | Adjacent to the backfed source breaker | WARNING: POWER SOURCE OUTPUT CONNECTION. DO NOT RELOCATE THIS OVERCURRENT DEVICE, or equivalent |
Busbar warning (sum of breakers) | 705.12(B)(3)(3) | 705.12(B)(3) | Adjacent to the distribution equipment | WARNING: THIS EQUIPMENT FED BY MULTIPLE SOURCES. TOTAL RATING OF ALL OVERCURRENT DEVICES, EXCLUDING MAIN SUPPLY OVERCURRENT DEVICE, SHALL NOT EXCEED AMPACITY OF BUSBAR, or equivalent |
ESS markings and signage | Article 706, NFPA 855 | Article 706, NFPA 855 | Battery disconnects, ESS enclosures, emergency controls | Equipment- and AHJ-dependent |
Label details can create discrepancies between plan sets and field installations. GreenLancer's solar permit design team prepares permit-ready PV and storage plan sets with labeling details coordinated across the electrical drawings, equipment specifications, and applicable code requirements.
Solar Label Materials, Durability, and Placement
NEC 110.21(B) requires field-applied hazard markings to be permanently affixed, durable enough for the environment, and not handwritten except for portions that vary. ANSI Z535.4 provides recognized guidance for safety label design where applicable.
Before submittal, confirm:
Exterior labels are UV-rated and weather-resistant, not paper or office-printer stock
Labels follow any placement or wording in the equipment manufacturer's instructions
Label locations on the plans match where the crew will actually install them
Where Solar Labeling Requirements Come From
Solar labeling requirements typically come from four places at once: the National Electrical Code (NEC), equipment manufacturer instructions, local AHJ rules, and utility requirements. A label package that satisfies one source may still fall short of another.
NEC Requirements
NEC Article 690 governs solar PV systems and holds most PV-specific marking rules. These include rapid shutdown (690.12), disconnects (690.13), and DC circuits (690.31, plus 690.7(D) in 2023 or 690.53 in 2020).
Article 705 covers interconnected power sources, and NEC 705.10 sets the directory requirements at service equipment. Labeling requirements per NEC Articles 690 and 705 work together on almost every grid-tied job.
For energy storage projects, Article 706 and NFPA 855 also apply. That adds another layer of labeling and signage requirements beyond what a PV-only job needs.
Equipment Manufacturer Instructions
OSHA adds a requirement that spans all of this. Under 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2), listed or labeled equipment must be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling. That means your label package also needs to reflect what the inverter, battery, and disconnect manufacturers specify, beyond the NEC baseline.
Local AHJ Rules And Utility Requirements
Local AHJ rules and utility requirements can add another layer. A label package that works in one jurisdiction may still need revisions in another.
This is especially common when an AHJ wants more detail on service equipment labels, disconnect locations, or ESS signage.
Code Cycle Variation
Code cycle variation makes this harder. Some jurisdictions are still on the 2017 or 2020 NEC, many have adopted NEC 2023, and the 2026 edition is now published, so adoption will keep spreading unevenly. The rapid shutdown labeling rules changed meaningfully between cycles, as did several exceptions. Before submittal, confirm which edition the AHJ has adopted. What worked in the last jurisdiction may not pass in the next one.
Why Solar Placards Get Rejected: Common Labeling Redlines
Most solar placard rejections come from the same short list of issues. They are easy to avoid when label review happens before submittal.
Common redlines include:
Missing rapid shutdown placard or incorrect placement
No label schedule in the permit set
Disconnect labels that do not match the one-line
Service equipment notes that do not reflect multiple power sources
ESS shown on plans but missing warning signage
Label notes copied from a different project
Field changes not reflected in updated label notes
Field-applied labels that are not rated for outdoor conditions
The common thread is that labeling gets treated as a field detail instead of a design detail. When that happens, the plan set and the installed system tell different stories, and that mismatch is exactly what inspectors look for.
Rapid Shutdown Label Requirements
The rapid shutdown label is one of the most visible items in a plan package and one of the most commonly flagged. Reviewers look for it specifically, and a vague note rarely satisfies them.
Under NEC 690.12, PV system circuits on or in buildings must include a rapid shutdown function. Rapid shutdown label requirements cover two separate labels, and installers shouldn't treat them as interchangeable.
Rapid Shutdown Building Placard
The building placard goes at each service equipment location or another approved, readily visible location. It includes a simple diagram of the building and roof showing where the initiation devices are.
Under the 2023 NEC (690.12(D)), the placard reads:
SOLAR PV SYSTEM IS EQUIPPED WITH RAPID SHUTDOWN. TURN RAPID SHUTDOWN SWITCH TO THE "OFF" POSITION TO SHUT DOWN.
The 2023 edition requires capitalized title letters at least 3/8 inch tall, with text that is legible and contrasts with the background. It no longer mandates a specific color or reflectivity.
Under the 2017 and 2020 NEC (690.56(C)), the wording depends on what the system shuts down:
Array and conductors leaving the array: SOLAR PV SYSTEM IS EQUIPPED WITH RAPID SHUTDOWN. TURN RAPID SHUTDOWN SWITCH TO THE "OFF" POSITION TO SHUT DOWN PV SYSTEM AND REDUCE SHOCK HAZARD IN ARRAY.
Conductors leaving the array only: SOLAR PV SYSTEM IS EQUIPPED WITH RAPID SHUTDOWN. TURN RAPID SHUTDOWN SWITCH TO THE "OFF" POSITION TO SHUT DOWN CONDUCTORS OUTSIDE THE ARRAY.
When a building has more than one rapid shutdown type or zone, the placard needs a more detailed roof plan. It should show which area each initiation device shuts down, typically outlined with a dashed line.
Rapid Shutdown Switch Label
The initiation device needs its own label on or within 1 meter (3 feet) of the switch, reading RAPID SHUTDOWN SWITCH FOR SOLAR PV SYSTEM. It must be reflective, in capitalized letters at least 3/8 inch tall, white on red.
2023 NEC Exceptions for Carports and Canopies
The 2023 NEC introduced two exceptions for carports, canopies, solar trellises, and similar non-enclosed detached structures. As Mayfield Renewables explains in their breakdown of the 2023 updates, PV equipment and circuits on these structures are excluded from the 690.12 rapid shutdown requirement.
Conductors from those arrays that remain on the building exterior fall under a separate exception. These exceptions can change how you design and label certain jobs, but only where the jurisdiction has adopted the 2023 NEC.
For compliance methods, MLPE vs. array boundary design, and documentation beyond labels, see our 690.12 rapid shutdown requirements guide.
Before submittal, confirm:
The rapid shutdown method for the equipment selected
That the initiation device location is clearly shown on the plans
That the placard wording and placement match 690.12(D) or 690.56(C), depending on the adopted edition
That the label location makes sense given the service equipment layout
Whether the 2023 NEC carport and canopy exceptions apply to the installation
NEC 705.10: Power Source Directory and Service Equipment Labels
Once solar is interconnected, NEC 705.10 requires a permanent plaque, label, or directory at each service equipment location or an approved, readily visible location. It must show where each power source disconnect is and carry the CAUTION: MULTIPLE SOURCES OF POWER wording when multiple sources supply the building.
The 2023 NEC also requires emergency telephone numbers for any off-site entities servicing the power source systems. The directory doesn't need to identify each power source individually, and any posted diagram must be correctly oriented to where it's mounted.
Here's an illustrative directory for one possible configuration: an AC-coupled PV-plus-storage home where the PV system and the battery each have their own source disconnect. Your directory should list the disconnecting means that actually isolates each power source.
On other architectures, such as a DC-coupled hybrid inverter, one disconnect may serve both PV and storage. A battery's internal breaker isn't necessarily the disconnect the directory should identify.
CAUTION: MULTIPLE SOURCES OF POWER
POWER TO THIS BUILDING IS ALSO SUPPLIED FROM THE FOLLOWING SOURCES WITH DISCONNECTS LOCATED AS SHOWN:
UTILITY SERVICE DISCONNECT: MAIN PANEL, EAST EXTERIOR WALL
PV SYSTEM AC DISCONNECT: EXTERIOR, ADJACENT TO METER
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM DISCONNECT: GARAGE, NORTH WALL
EMERGENCY CONTACT: [SERVICE COMPANY NAME], [PHONE NUMBER]
Load-side connections add their own warnings under 705.12. These include a "do not relocate" label on a backfed breaker under the 120% rule and a busbar warning under the sum-of-breakers method, both covered in the table above.
These service equipment labels come up in corrections frequently because they connect multiple documents at once. The one-line, panel schedule, site layout, and label notes all need to tell the same story. See our solar one-line diagram requirements guide for what needs to match across sheets.
A good rule: if someone unfamiliar with the project cannot quickly understand where the power sources and disconnects are from the service equipment labels alone, the labeling needs more work.
ESS Warning Labels for Battery Storage Permits
Storage projects require more than showing the battery on the one-line. The UL 9540 standard for energy storage systems establishes the system-level safety requirements for ESS and references UL 1973 and UL 1741. But for installation requirements — including what signage is required and where — NFPA 855 is the standard that most AHJs lean on. NFPA 855 covers separation distances, maximum quantities, and signage tied to emergency controls and hazard identification.
ESS warning labels typically need to support more than electrical identification. They often need to communicate hazard information, identify disconnect locations, and support emergency response. That is a different function than a standard panel label, and it requires a more careful review pass. For the full storage permitting workflow, see our solar battery storage permit guide.
When storage is included, check:
Battery disconnect labeling
ESS warning signage per NFPA 855 and equipment instructions
Emergency shutdown or manual control identification
Directories showing disconnect locations
Consistency between the one-line and all label notes
Copied notes are a particular risk on storage jobs. If a label note from a previous project is carried forward without review, it may reference equipment, locations, or disconnect configurations that do not match the current job. Storage projects generally need a project-specific label review, not a template pass.
A Pre-Submittal Solar Labeling Checklist
Review the label package when the one-line and equipment list are finalized, well before submittal day. Track what individual AHJs ask for repeatedly, since the 2023 NEC updates to Article 690 mean a note that cleared review under 2020 may now cite the wrong section.
Run through this before sending a permit package:
Confirm the adopted NEC code year for the jurisdiction - Do not assume the last project used the same code cycle, because rapid shutdown rules and labeling exceptions can change between 2017, 2020, and 2023 NEC.
Check the AHJ solar checklist and any utility signage requirements - Some AHJs and utilities want more detail than the NEC baseline, especially for service equipment directories, disconnect locations, or storage signage.
Identify whether the job is PV-only or PV-plus-storage - Storage projects usually require a more detailed label review because they add warning signage, disconnect identification, and emergency control considerations.
Verify the rapid shutdown method and confirm 690.12(D) placard requirements are met - Make sure the plans show the actual shutdown method, the initiation device location, and the required placard wording clearly enough for the reviewer to follow.
Confirm whether any 2023 NEC rapid shutdown exceptions apply - If the project involves a carport, canopy, trellis, or other qualifying structure, check whether the adopted code cycle changes the rapid shutdown and labeling requirements.
Review service equipment labels and 705.10 power source identification - The service equipment should clearly identify all power sources and disconnects so the plans match the real electrical configuration.
For storage jobs, confirm ESS warning labels, NFPA 855 signage, and disconnect directories - Battery projects often need more than standard electrical labeling, including warnings, shutdown information, and directories that help with emergency response.
Make sure the one-line, site plan, and label notes all match - A mismatch between drawings and label notes is one of the easiest ways to trigger a correction or inspection issue.
Compare the plan set to the equipment manufacturer instructions - Listed equipment needs to be installed according to its labeling and instructions, so the permit package should reflect what the actual equipment requires.
Confirm all field-applied labels meet the durability requirements of NEC 110.21 - Exterior labels need to be durable and suitable for the environment, since paper or non-weather-rated labels are a common inspection failure.
GreenLancer's engineering service delivers permit-ready PV and storage plan sets built around each AHJ's adopted code cycle and utility requirements. Want fewer labeling redlines on your next job? Complete the form to get started.
Solar Labeling Requirements FAQs
Which NEC articles cover solar labeling requirements?
Labeling requirements for PV systems come mainly from NEC Articles 690 and 705. Article 690 covers rapid shutdown, disconnect, and DC circuit markings, while Article 705 covers power source identification at service equipment. Article 706 and NFPA 855 add ESS markings, and 110.21 sets durability rules for field-applied labels.
What information goes on an NEC 705.10 power source directory?
The directory must show the location of each power source disconnecting means for the building and include the multiple sources of power caution wording where applicable. The 2023 NEC also requires emergency telephone numbers for off-site entities that service the power source systems.
How are PV DC circuits marked?
Under 690.31(D)(2), exposed PV DC raceways, enclosures, and cable assemblies are marked SOLAR PV DC CIRCUIT or PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SOURCE at regular intervals. Markings are also typically required near turns, bends, and penetrations so the circuit can be traced through the building.
What NEC sections govern solar labeling requirements on residential PV jobs?
The primary sections are NEC 690.12(D) for rapid shutdown marking, 705.10 for identification of power sources at service equipment, and 110.21 for field-applied label durability requirements. Article 706 applies when energy storage is included, and NFPA 855 adds installation-specific signage requirements for ESS that go beyond what Article 690 covers on its own.
Do carports and solar canopies require rapid shutdown labels?
The 2023 NEC added two exceptions to 690.12 that explicitly exclude PV equipment and circuits on non-enclosed detached structures, such as carports, solar trellises, and canopies, from the rapid shutdown requirement. However, this exception only applies in jurisdictions that have adopted the 2023 NEC, so confirming the local code cycle before removing rapid shutdown from the design and label package is essential.
What ESS warning labels are required on a battery storage permit?
ESS warning labels typically need to identify disconnect locations, communicate hazard information, and support emergency response — not just provide standard electrical identification. UL 9540 governs system-level safety requirements for energy storage systems, while NFPA 855 drives the installation-specific signage requirements that most AHJs reference, including labels tied to emergency controls and manual shutdown points.
How do solar labeling requirements change between NEC editions?
One of the more significant changes is that rapid shutdown marking requirements were consolidated and moved from NEC 690.56(C) to 690.12(D) in the 2023 edition, so a label note that references the older section may be incorrect depending on which code year the AHJ has adopted. The 2023 NEC also added exceptions for non-enclosed structures that do not exist in the 2020 cycle, which means the same installation type can have different labeling and rapid shutdown obligations depending entirely on the adopted code year.
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