South Pasadena Municipal Code Art. II Expedited Permitting

• Previous Article II, entitled Housemovers, was repealed by Ordinance No. 2069.

The purpose of this article is to establish an expedited, streamlined solar permitting process that complies with Civil Code Section 714 and Government Code Section 65850.5 to achieve timely and cost-effective installations of small residential rooftop solar energy systems. This article encourages the use of solar energy systems by removing unreasonable barriers, minimizing costs to property owners and the city of South Pasadena (city), and expanding the ability of property owners to install small residential rooftop solar energy systems. This article allows the city to achieve these goals while protecting the public health and safety. (Ord. No. 2285, § 1, 2015; Ord. No. 2370, § 9, 2022; Ord. No. 2371, § 9, 2022.)

(a) This article applies to the permitting of all small residential rooftop solar energy systems in the city.

(b) Small residential rooftop solar energy systems legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of this article are not subject to the requirements of this chapter unless physical modifications or alterations are undertaken that materially change the size, type, or components of the small rooftop energy system in such a way as to require new permitting. Routine operation and maintenance shall not require a permit. (Ord. No. 2285, § 1, 2015.)

The following words and phrases as used in this article are defined as follows:

• (a) “Small residential rooftop solar energy system” means 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 as adopted or amended by the city; and to Civil Code Section 714, subdivision (c)(3), as such section or subdivision may be amended, renumbered, or redesignated from time to time.

(3) 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 maximum legal building height as defined by the authority having jurisdiction.

(b) “Solar energy system” has the same meaning as that set forth in Civil Code Section 801.5, subdivisions (a)(1) and (2), as such section or subdivision may be amended, renumbered, or redesignated from time to time.

(c) “Electronic submittal” means the utilization of one or more of the following:

(1) E-mail;

• (2) The Internet;

(3) Facsimile. (Ord. No. 2285, § 1, 2015.)

(a) All documents required for the submission of an expedited solar energy system application shall be made available on the city’s website.

(b) Applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city’s building division by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees.

(c) An applicant’s electronic signature shall be accepted on all forms, applications, and other documents in lieu of a wet signature.

(d) The city’s building division shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which small residential rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review.

(e) The small residential rooftop solar system permit process and checklist(s) shall substantially conform to state recommendations for expedited permitting, including the checklist contained in the most current version of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook adopted by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research.

(f) All plan review and permit fees shall be as adopted by separate resolution and/or ordinance. Plan checking fees shall be paid at the time of plan review submittal. Permit fees shall be paid at the time of permit issuance. Any such fees must comply with

Government Code Sections 65850.55 and 66015, and any other applicable state laws. (Ord. No. 2285, § 1, 2015.)

(a) Prior to submitting an application, the applicant shall:

(1) Verify to the applicant’s 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

(2) At the applicant’s cost, verify to the applicant’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.

(b) For a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review, only one inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner and may include a consolidated inspection by the building official and fire chief. If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized; however the subsequent inspection need not conform to the requirements of this subsection.

(c) An application that satisfies the information requirements in the checklist, as determined by the building official, shall be deemed complete. Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the building official shall issue a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.

(d) Upon confirmation by the building official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations. 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. (Ord. No. 2285, § 1, 2015.)

The purpose of this article is to establish an expedited, streamlined electric vehicle charging stations permitting process to achieve timely and cost-effective installations of electric vehicle charging stations, and to promote and encourage the use of electric vehicle charging stations and to limit obstacles to their use.

Electric vehicle charging stations which qualify for expedited permit processing, pursuant to Government Code Section 65850.7, shall be subject to the administrative permitting procedures set forth in this article. (Ord. No. 2370, § 10, 2022; Ord. No. 2371, § 10, 2022.)

For the purpose of this article, words and terms used in this article shall have the meanings set forth in this section. Where terms are not defined in this section and are defined elsewhere in this code, or the building code, such terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in such codes. The terms, phrases, and words used in this article shall be construed in compliance with the definitions set forth by California Government Code Section 65850.7.

“Electric vehicle charging station” or “charging station” means any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station that is designed and built in compliance with Article 625 of the California Electrical Code, as it reads on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this article, and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.

“Specific, adverse impact” means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified, and written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete. (Ord. No. 2370, § 10, 2022; Ord. No. 2371, § 10, 2022.)

(a) Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall implement an expedited administrative permit review process for electric vehicle charging stations and a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply in order to be eligible for expedited review. The expedited administrative permit review process and checklist may refer to the recommendations in the checklist prescribed by the most current version of the “Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist” of the “Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook” published by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. The city’s checklist shall be published on the city’s website.

(b) Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this article and associated supporting documentations. In accepting such permit applications, the building official shall also accept electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and other documentation in lieu of a wet signature by any applicant.

(c) Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the building official shall not condition the approval for any electric vehicle charging station permit on the approval of such a system by an association, as that term is defined by Civil Code Section 4080.

(d) A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the city’s checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. Upon confirmation by the building official that the permit application and supporting documents meets the requirements of the city checklist, and is consistent with all applicable laws, the building official shall, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, approve the application and issue all necessary permits. Such approval does not authorize an applicant to energize or utilize the electric vehicle charging station until approval is granted by the city. If the building official determines that the permit application is incomplete, he or she shall issue a written correction notice to the applicant, detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance. (Ord. No. 2370, § 10, 2022; Ord. No. 2371, § 10, 2022.)

It is the intent of this article to encourage the installation of electric vehicle charging stations by removing obstacles to permitting for charging stations so long as the action does not supersede the building official’s authority to address higher priority life-safety situations. If the building official makes a finding based on substantial evidence that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific adverse impact upon the public health or safety, as defined in Government Code 65850.7, the city may require the applicant to apply for a use permit. (Ord. No. 2370, § 10, 2022; Ord. No. 2371, § 10, 2022.)