Chapter 15.18 — RESIDENTIAL CODE

The 2022 California Residential Code and Appendices AH, AJ, AQ, AR, AS, AX, AY, and AZ is adopted by reference.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 13-024, § 1(Exh. B), 11-12-2013; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011)

Sections and/or articles of the California Residential Code are deleted, amended or superseded as indicated:

A.

2022 CRC Appendix AX Known as the Swimming Pool Safety Act is adopted in its Entirety and amended by adding the following language:

Exception: A wall or fence as required by the Fresno County Zoning Ordinance section 855-H.2.a shall not be required when there exists a natural barrier restricting physical access to the swimming pool that is essentially equivalent in effect to the required barrier as determined by the Building Official.

a.

A wall or fence as required by the Fresno County Zoning Ordinance code section 855-H.2.a shall meet the requirements of California Health and Safety Code section 115922 or 115923,CRC AX100.

B.

Solar Energy Systems, Section R324.4.1.1 Roof Load is amended to include: Translucent glazing panels installed flush with the building roof surface and Skylights adjacent to and in the maintenance area of the Solar Array as portions of roof structures not covered with photovoltaic panel systems.

C.

Required Heating, section R303.10. Heating facilities to be an approved electrical or gas fuel appliance. Wood burning appliances shall not be sole source of heat.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011)

A.

Purpose. This ordinance establishes a permitting process for solar energy systems, and an expedited, streamlined permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems, pursuant to Government Code section 65850.5.

B.

Definitions. Unless otherwise specified, the following definitions shall be applicable throughout this division:

"Department" means the Fresno County Department of Public Works and Planning.

"Electronic submittal" means the utilization of one or more of the following:

E-mail;

The internet;

Facsimile.

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

A solar energy system that provides a maximum of ten kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or thirty kilowatts thermal.

A solar energy system that conforms to all applicable state fire, structural, electrical, and other building codes as adopted or amended by the county and paragraph (iii) of subdivision (c) of section 714 of the Civil Code, as such section or subdivision may be amended, renumbered, or re-designated from time to time.

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

A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined by the zoning district in which the solar energy system is proposed to be installed. "Solar energy system" has the same meaning set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of section 801.5 of the Civil Code, as such section or subdivision may be amended, renumbered, or redesignated from time to time.

C.

Building Permit Required.

A building permit is required to install a solar energy system.

An application for a building permit to install a small residential rooftop solar energy system shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of this section 15.18.30.

D.

Permitting Process. The following permitting process applies to applications for a building permit to install a small residential rooftop solar energy system:

Verify to the department reasonable satisfaction through the use of standard engineering evaluation techniques that the support structure for the small residential rooftop solar energy system is stable and adequate to transfer all wind, seismic, and dead and live loads associated with the system to the building foundation; and

At the applicant's cost, verify to the department's reasonable satisfaction using standard electrical inspection techniques that the existing electrical system including existing line, load, ground and bonding wiring as well as main panel and subpanel sizes are adequately sized, based on the existing electrical system's current use, to carry all new photovoltaic electrical loads.

The department shall make the following documents available on the county's publicly available website:

a.

The county's standard building permit application form;

b.

The amount of any required fee(s); and

c.

The county's standard small residential rooftop solar energy system plan form and checklist, which shall substantially conform to the plan form and checklist in the most current version of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.

An application to install a small residential rooftop solar energy system may be submitted electronically.

The department shall determine whether the application and supporting documentation are complete, meet all requirements of the California Building Standards Codes, and whether required fees have been paid. The department shall then promptly approve or deny the application in writing.

If an application is deemed incomplete, the Building Official will notify the applicant in writing of the additional information, and/or required fees, are needed to complete the application.

If the permit application is deemed complete and approved, the department shall issue all required permits.

E.

Inspection Process.

As soon as practicable after the permittee notifies the department that a small residential rooftop solar energy system has been installed under a building permit, the Building Official will inspect the system to verify compliance with the building permit. If the Building Official determines that a system was not installed in compliance with a building permit, the Building Official will notify the permittee of the actions needed to comply with the building permit and will conduct additional inspections as necessary. No small residential rooftop solar energy system may be operated unless the Building Official verifies in writing that it complies with the building permit.

Small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited, streamlined permitting process shall only require one inspection, unless the installation is found to be out of compliance with the California Building Standards Codes or a separate fire safety inspection is required.

F.

Requirements Cumulative. The requirements of this section are in addition to any other applicable requirements of this code, and any requirements of a utility provider, that must be satisfied before a solar energy system may be installed or operated.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 15-019, § 1(Exh. A), 9-22-2015)

A.

Residential Accessory Structures. The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to metal framed, pliable plastic or fabric covered accessory structures that are: (1) no more than fourteen feet (14') wide and forty feet (40') long; and, (2) a minimum of five feet (5') from all property lines or as required by the Zoning Ordinance whichever is greater. The structure must be anchored to withstand the maximum wind load for the area, as defined in CBC Section 1609 Wind Loads. Property owner/permittees claiming an Exemption for this type of structure shall, before commencing construction, sign an application for and secure an Exemption from the Building Official. All structures constructed under this Exemption shall be inspected for conformance with this Section.

All electrical installed in these structures shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 15.16 of this title.

B.

The provisions of section 15.18.030.1—8 of this Title shall apply.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019)