Irwindale Municipal Code Ch. 15.05 Expedited Permitting for Small Residential Rooftop Solar Energy Systems

The provisions of this chapter are intended to help the state of California reach its economic, energy and environmental goals by providing a standardized and streamlined permitting process to encourage the use of small residential rooftop solar energy systems. This Chapter shall apply to the permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems that meet the requirements of Section 15.05.080, which are installed on a one- or two-family dwelling and involve either a photovoltaic system that is no larger than ten kilowatts alternating current, or a solar thermal system for residential service water heating and solar pool heating that is no larger than thirty kilowatts thermal.

(Ord. No. 697, § 2, 10-14-15)

Three copies of the Los Angeles County Building Code, referred to in Section 15.04.010 of this chapter, including all amendments, have been deposited in the office of the city clerk and shall be at all times maintained by said clerk for use and examination by the public.

(Ord. No. 697, § 2, 10-14-15)

For the purpose of this chapter, words and terms used in this chapter shall have the meanings set forth in this section. Where terms are not defined in this section and are defined elsewhere in this code, the plumbing code or the electrical code, such terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in such codes. Where terms are not defined through the methods authorized by this section, such terms shall have their ordinary accepted meanings such as the context implies.

"Board of appeals" means the board of appeals established by the Los Angeles County Building Code.

"Board of supervisors" means the city council.

"Building code," "uniform building" or "Los Angeles County Building Code" means Chapter 15.04 of this code.

"Building department" means the building and safety division of the department of public works, acting for the city.

"Building official" means the director of public works or his or her designee.

"City" means the city of Irwindale.

"County," "county of Los Angeles" or "unincorporated territory of the county of Los Angeles" means the city.

"County engineer" means the director of public works of the county of Los Angeles.

"Electrical code" means Chapter 15.08 of this code.

"Fire code" means Chapter 15.12 of this code.

"Fire zone" means the fire zone or zones adopted by an ordinance creating and establishing fire zones.

"General fund" means the city treasury.

"Green building standards code" means Chapter 15.10 of this code.

"Health code" or "Los Angeles County Health Code" means Chapter 8.04 of this code.

"Health officer" means the health officer of the city.

"Kilowatt thermal" means the unit of measurement to approximate the amount of energy produced by a solar thermal collector. Each square meter of collector space equals 0.7 kilowatts thermal.

"Mechanical code" means Chapter 15.20 of this code.

"Plumbing code" means Chapter 15.16 of this code.

"Restrictions that do not significantly increase the cost of the system or decrease its efficiency or specified performance" means either of the following:

1. For water heater systems or solar swimming pool heating systems: an amount exceeding ten percent of the cost of the system, but in no case more than one thousand dollars, or decreasing the efficiency of the solar energy system by an amount exceeding ten percent, as originally specified and proposed.

2. For photovoltaic systems: An amount not to exceed one thousand dollars over the system cost as originally specified and proposed, or a decrease in system efficiency of an amount exceeding ten percent as originally specified and proposed.

"Small residential rooftop solar energy system" means a rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of Section 15.05.080, which is installed on a one- or two-family dwelling and which does not exceed ten kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating, or a solar thermal system for residential service water heating and solar pool heating that is no larger than thirty kilowatts thermal.

"Solar energy system" means either of the following:

1. Any solar collector or other solar energy device 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.

2. 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.

(Ord. No. 697, § 2, 10-14-15)

Permit fees for the installation of small residential rooftop solar energy systems shall be charged according to the applicable fees prescribed in Los Angeles County Building Code Section 107, Section 82-8 of the Los Angeles County Electrical Code, and Sections 103.10 and 103.11 of the Los Angeles County Plumbing Code, as applicable. The combined permit fee for small residential rooftop photovoltaic systems shall not exceed five hundred dollars plus fifteen dollars per kilowatt for each kilowatt above fifteen kilowatts nless modified by or in accordance with Government Code Section 66015 or other applicable law.

When an incomplete application is submitted, a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance will be issued.

(Ord. No. 697, § 2, 10-14-15)

The application for a permit shall meet the requirements of Los Angeles County Building Code Section 106.4 and may be submitted in person or electronically through the online submittal system maintained by the building official. Prior to submitting the application for an expedited permit, the applicant shall verify that the installation meets all criteria in Section 15.05.080 to qualify for expedited permit issuance. Upon receipt of a complete small residential rooftop solar energy system application, plan check review will be completed within one to three business days.

(Ord. No. 697, § 2, 10-14-15)

Upon approval of a permit application by the building official, a building, electrical or plumbing permit, as applicable, will be issued for the work described in the application. A combined solar energy permit may be issued for photovoltaic systems, which will include all building and electrical work, however a separate plumbing permit, if needed, will be required. The combined solar energy permit is subject to the requirements of the building and electrical codes.

(Ord. No. 697, § 2, 10-14-15)

A. General. All construction or work for small residential rooftop solar energy systems for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official and such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved by the building official as specified in Los Angeles County Building Code Section 108.

B. Required Inspections. A combination inspection shall be conducted to inspect the structural, electrical, and plumbing components of the installation of small residential rooftop solar energy systems. One inspection shall be required for the system. Evidence satisfactory to the building official as identified in Los Angeles County Building Code Manual 6807, Article 1, must be provided at the inspection to verify that the installation and labeling of components meet all applicable requirements of the building code, the plumbing code, and the electrical code. The Building Official may require exposure of the following components if sufficient evidence regarding installation and labeling is not provided:

1. Fastening of roof mounting system to structural framing members.

2. Grounding and bonding of panels.

3. Nameplates of modules and inverters.

If the small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, subsequent inspections are authorized until the work is approved by the building official.

(Ord. No. 697, § 2, 10-14-15)

A. General. The design of small residential rooftop solar energy systems shall comply with this section to qualify for expedited permit issuance.

B. Height Limit. The solar panel or module array shall not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined in the city of Irwindale Planning and Zoning Code, Los Angeles County Building Code, and Los Angeles County Residential Code, or other applicable legal authority, based on the most restrictive provision.

C. Solar Permitting Guidebook. The submitted plans must comply with Los Angeles County Building Code Manual 6807, Article 1, including its checklist and standard plans as developed in substantial conformance with the California Solar Permitting Guidebook adopted by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research and as adopted by the building official.

D. Minimum Photovoltaic System Standards. The photovoltaic system shall be identified and listed for the application as referenced in the electrical code.

E. Minimum Solar Thermal System Standards. The solar thermal systems shall be certified by Solar Rating and Certification Corporation or other approved listing agencies as specified in the plumbing code.

F. Compliance With Laws. The solar energy system shall also comply with all other applicable Los Angeles County Codes and California health and safety laws.

(Ord. No. 697, § 2, 10-14-15)