Coronado Municipal Code Ch. 70.35 Small Residential Rooftop Solar Energy Systems

A. De�nitions. The following deInitions are adopted from California Government Code Section 65850.5, as may be amended from time to time. These deInitions shall apply to this chapter and are restated here for reference.

1. A “feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the speciIc, adverse impact” includes, but is not limited to, any cost-eLective method, condition, or mitigation imposed by the City on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for a permit. The City shall use its best eLorts to ensure that the selected method, condition, or mitigation meets the conditions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 714 of the Civil Code.

2. “Small residential rooftop solar energy system” means all of the following:

   • a. A solar energy system that is no larger than 10 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or 30 kilowatts thermal.

b. A solar energy system that conforms to all applicable state Ire, structural, electrical, and other building codes as adopted or amended by the City and all state and City health and safety standards.

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

  • d. A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height as deIned by the City.

  3. “Solar energy system” means either of the following:

     • a. Any 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.

     • b. Any 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.

  4. “SpeciIc, adverse impact” means a signiIcant, quantiIable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identiIed, and written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete.

• B. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to adopt an expedited solar permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems pursuant to Government Code Section 65850.5(g).

C. Applicability. This section applies to the permitting of eligible small residential rooftop solar energy systems in the City.

D. Permitting. Applicants desiring to qualify for the expedited review shall submit an application to the City, in a form approved by the City’s Building OKcial. The Building OKcial is authorized to administratively act on such applications, pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, decisions made by the Building OKcial pursuant to this chapter may be appealed to the Planning Commission.

E. Eligibility Checklists. The City Building OKcial is authorized and directed to develop checklists of all requirements with which small rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review. The initial checklists shall be developed on or before September 30, 2015, and shall be the City’s checklists, in accordance with Government Code Section 65850.5.

F. An application that satisIes the requirements of the eligibility checklists, as determined by the Building OKcial, shall be deemed complete and eligible for the expedited permitting process. Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the Building OKcial shall issue a written correction notice detailing all deIciencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for the expedited permitting process.

G. Upon conIrmation by the Building OKcial of the application and supporting documentation being complete and that the solar energy system substantially conforms to all applicable local, state, and federal health and safety requirements, the Building OKcial shall administratively approve the application and issue required permits. Such approval does not authorize an applicant to connect the small residential rooftop energy system to the local utility provider’s electricity grid. The applicant is responsible for obtaining such approval or permission from the local utility provider.

H. For a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review, one consolidated building inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner. If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, re-inspections are required. However, the subsequent inspection need not conform to the requirements of this section.

I. Fees. Permit fees for eligible small residential rooftop solar systems shall be as speciIed in the most current adopted fee schedule.

J. Use Permit. If the Building OKcial makes a Inding, based on substantial evidence, that the proposed solar energy system could have a speciIc, adverse impact on the public health and safety, the Building OKcial may require the applicant to apply for a use permit from the Building OKcial. The decision of the Building OKcial may be appealed to the Planning Commission.

K. Denial. If a use permit is required, the City may deny an application if it makes written Indings based on substantial evidence in the record that the proposed installation would have a speciIc, adverse impact on the public health or safety, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the speciIc, adverse impact. (Ord. 2053 § 1, 2015)