Rooftop solar power at your home or business is becoming more affordable, thanks in part to innovative provider financing, like industry giant SolarCity’s use of leases to defray the up-front cost of installation. Yet, a host of local- and state-government fees on the installations can make the cost of a solar system inch back up. There are state, county and municipal fees for building permits, application reviews and plan reviews, and they can stretch household and small-business budgets.

A bipartisan bill that unanimously passed the Senate and today picked up almost every vote in the House will rein in those fees lest they amount to a death by a thousand cuts. Current law limits the fees, but the limits are set to expire next year. So, Senate Bill 179 would extend to 2025 all existing laws that limit the amount of permit, plan review, or other fees that counties, municipalities, or the state may charge for installing solar energy devices or systems.

The House Democrats’ press shop released a press statement on the bill’s passage:

The bill continues the limits on local government fees at $500 for small residential solar arrays and $1,000 for small commercial arrays. The bill also continues state agency fee limits at $500 for residential and $2,000 for nonresidential.

“This bill sets reasonable limits on what a local jurisdiction can charge for a permit and related fees for solar arrays and provides cost certainty to small businesses and the Colorado consumer,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, a prime sponsor of the bill along with Rep. Lang Sias, R-Arvada.

The bill now goes to the governor for his signature.