Chapter 15.12 — SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEMS

SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEMS

• A. Authority. This chapter is adopted under the authority of Government Code Section65850.5.

• B. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to adopt an expedited, streamlined solar permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems.

• C. Applicability. This chapter applies to the permitting of a small residential rooftop solar energy system.

• (Ord. 955 § 2, 2015)

In this chapter:

"Small residential rooftop solar energy system" means a system that meets all of the following:

1. A solar energy system that is no larger than ten kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or thirty kilowatts thermal.

2. A solar energy system that conforms to all applicable state fire, structural, electrical, and other building codes, and to Civil Code Section 714(c).

• A solar energy system that is installed on a single- or duplex-family dwelling.

4. A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the city's maximum legal building height as set forth in Municipal Code Title 17, Zoning. (Government Code Section 65850.5.)

"Solar energy system" means either of the following:

1. A solar collector or other solar energy device whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for space heating, space cooling, electric generation, or water heating; or

2. A structural design feature of a building, whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for electricity generation, space heating or cooling, or for water heating. (Civil Code Section 801.5.)

(Ord. 955 § 2, 2015)

• A. Application. An applicant for a small residential rooftop solar energy system shall submit a building permit application on the form provided by the city, accompanied by each item of information listed in the city's small residential rooftop solar energy checklist. Both the application form and the checklist are available online.

An application that satisfies the application and checklist requirements will be considered complete, and the city will issue the building permit within three days. If an application is incomplete, the city will issue a written correction notice detailing each deficiency.

• B. Inspection. When a building permit is issued for a small residential rooftop solar energy system, the city will require only one inspection (which may include a consolidated inspection). However if the system fails inspection, the city may perform one or more subsequent inspections.

• (Ord. 955 § 2, 2015)