San Ramon Municipal Code Ch. II Alternative Energy Structures

This Chapter provides regulations for alternative energy structures and equipment, including solar power equipment and windmills (wind energy conversion systems), to assist residents and businesses in reducing the consumption of electricity produced by sources outside of the community.

The provisions of this Section are intended to ensure that solar energy systems are protected from shading, conform in appearance to the surrounding neighborhood, and to provide design guidelines and installation standards. A. Definitions. Solar Energy System means either:

1. Any solar collector 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.

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. (CA Civil Code Section 801.5) Solar Collectors include:

3. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System,

4. Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 714

5. Solar Thermal Panels, and like systems; or

6. other solar energy device Small Residential Rooftop Solar Energy System means all of the following:

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

8. A solar energy system that conforms to all applicable state fire, structural, electrical, and other building codes as adopted or amended by the city, and meets all applicable safety and performance standards established by the State.

9. A solar energy system installed on a single or duplex family dwelling unit

10. A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined by the authority having jurisdiction B. Protection of solar access. A structure, fence, or wall shall not be constructed or modified in a residential zone, and vegetation may not be placed or allowed to grow after the effective date of this Chapter, so as to obstruct more than 10 percent of the absorption area of a solar energy system on a neighboring parcel at any time. C. Solar Energy System design and installation standards. Solar energy system, except Small Residential Rooftop Solar Energy System, shall be designed and installed in compliance with the following standards:

    1. Solar collectors. a. Roof-mounted collectors shall be placed in the location least visible from public streets without reducing the operating efficiency of the collectors, unless they are integrated into the design of the structure as an architectural element.

    b. Wall-mounted and ground-mounted collectors shall be screened from public view. c. Roof-mounted collectors shall be mounted at the same angle or as close as possible to the pitch of the roof.

    2. Appurtenant equipment. Equipment appurtenant to solar collectors, including plumbing, and related fixtures, shall be installed within a structure on which the collectors are mounted, where feasible, or shall be screened from public view. Appurtenant equipment outside of a building shall comply with applicable setback requirements.
    3. Accessory fixtures. Large accessory fixtures that generally require exposure (e.g., storage tanks) shall be screened through architectural features that harmonize with other elements of the structure.
    4. Exterior finishes. Where feasible, exterior surfaces should have a matte finish and should be color-coordinated to harmonize with roof materials or other dominant colors of the structure.

Where allowed by Division D2 (Allowable Land Uses and Zoning Standards), a windmill proposed for the generation of electricity, hereafter referred to as a "windmill," shall comply with the requirements of this Section. A. Application requirements. The Use Permit application shall include all information and materials required by Section D6-16, and the following. 1. Standard drawings and an engineering analysis of the system's tower, showing compliance with the Uniform Building Code (UBC), and certification by a California-licensed professional mechanical, structural, or civil engineer. A "wet stamp" shall not be required on the drawings and analysis if the application demonstrates that the system is designed to meet City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 715

the most stringent wind requirements (UBC wind exposure D), the requirements for the worst seismic class (UBC Seismic 4), and the weakest soil class, with a soil strength of not more than 1,000 pounds per square foot. 2. Information demonstrating that the system will be used primarily to reduce on-site consumption of electricity. 3. Evidence that the provider of electric utility service to the site has been informed of the applicant's intent to install an interconnected customer-owned electricity generator, unless the applicant intends, and so states in the application, that the system will not be connected to the electricity grid. 4. Evidence that the proposed height of the windmill tower does not exceed the height recommended by the manufacturer or distributor of the system. B. Minimum site area. A windmill shall only be located on a parcel of one acre or larger. C. Limitations on location. No more than one windmill shall be approved on a single parcel, or closer than 500 feet from another windmill. D. Windmill design standards. 1. Setback requirements. A windmill shall not be located closer to a property line than the height of the windmill (the distance from the ground to the topmost point of the windmill blades. 2. Height limit. A windmill tower shall not exceed the maximum height allowed by the applicable zone. 3. Windmill turbine. The turbine proposed for the system shall have been approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC) as qualifying under the Emerging Renewables Fund of the CEC's Renewables Investment Plan, or certified by a national program recognized and approved by the CEC. E. Noise standards. A windmill shall be designed, installed, and operated so that noise generated by the system shall not exceed the lesser of 60 decibels (dBA), or the maximum noise levels established by the Noise Ordinance for the applicable zone, as measured at the property line, except during short-term events including utility outages and severe wind storms. F. Required findings for approval. The approval of a Use Permit for a windmill shall require that the Review Authority first find that the location and design of the windmill will not produce excessive visual impact or cause the windmill to be the dominant visual feature on a ridgeline when viewed from a public right-of-way, in addition to the findings required for Use Permit approval by Section D6-28 (Use Permits and Minor Use Permits).