Ventura Municipal Code Ch. 12.145 Small Residential Rooftop Solar Energy System Review Process

The purpose of this chapter is to adopt an expedited, streamlined solar permitting process that complies with Government Code Section 65850.5, to achieve timely and cost-effective installations of small residential rooftop solar energy systems. This chapter encourages the use of solar systems by establishing prescriptive guidelines, minimizing costs to property owners and the city of San Buenaventura, and expanding the ability of property owners to install solar energy systems. This chapter allows the city to achieve these goals while protecting the public health and safety. (Ord. No. 2015-011, § 1, 9-21-15)

“Association” means a nonprofit corporation or unincorporated association created for the purpose of managing a common interest development.

“Building official” means the chief building official of the city, or their designee.

“Common interest development” means any of the following: a community apartment project; a condominium project; a planned development; a stock cooperative.

“Electronic submittal” means the utilization of electronic mail.

“Reasonable restrictions on a solar energy system” are those restrictions that do not significantly increase the cost of the system or significantly decrease its efficiency or specified performance, or that allow for an alternative system of comparable cost, efficiency, and energy conservation benefits.

“Restrictions that do not significantly increase the cost of the system or decrease its efficiency or specified performance” means:

1. For water heater systems or solar swimming pool heating systems: an amount exceeding 10 percent of the cost of the system, but in no case more than $1,000, or decreasing the efficiency of the solar energy system by an amount exceeding 10 percent, as originally specified and proposed.

2. For photovoltaic systems: an amount not to exceed $1,000 over the system cost as originally specified and proposed, or a decrease in system efficiency of an amount exceeding 10 percent as originally specified and proposed.

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

1. A solar energy system that is no larger than 10 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or 30 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 of San Buenaventura and all state of California health and safety standards.

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 city of San Buenaventura.

“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 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.

“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. 2015-011, § 1, 9-21-15)

This chapter applies to the permitting of all small residential rooftop solar energy systems in the city. Small residential rooftop solar energy systems legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of this chapter 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 a small rooftop energy system in such a way as to require new permitting. Routine operation and maintenance shall not require a permit. (Ord. No. 2015-011, § 1, 9-21-15)

A. All solar energy systems shall meet applicable health and safety standards and requirements imposed by the state and the city.

B. Solar energy systems for heating water in single-family residences and for heating water in swimming pool applications shall be certified by an accredited listing agency as defined by the California Plumbing and Mechanical Code.

C. Solar energy systems for producing electricity shall meet all applicable safety and performance standards established by the California Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and accredited testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories and, where applicable, rules of the Public Utilities Commission regarding safety and reliability. (Ord. No. 2015-011, § 1, 9-21-15)

A. All documents required for the submission of an expedited solar energy system application shall be made available on the publicly accessible city website.

B. Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.

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 and safety division shall adopt a standard plan and checklist of all requirements with which small residential rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review. The building official is hereby authorized and directed to develop and adopt such checklist.

E. The small residential rooftop solar system permit process, standard plans, and checklist shall substantially conform to recommendations for expedited permitting, including the checklist and standard plans contained in the most current version of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook adopted by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. (Ord. No. 2015-011, § 1, 9-21-15)

A. The building and safety division shall adopt an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems within 30 days of the adoption on this chapter. For an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan, the building and safety division shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit within three business days. The building official may require an applicant to apply for a use permit if the official finds, based on substantial evidence, that the solar energy system could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety. Such decisions may be appealed to the board of appeals established in Section 12.110.020.

B. Review of the application shall be limited to the building official’s review of whether the application meets local, state, and federal health and safety requirements.

C. If a use permit is required, the building official may deny an application for the use permit if the official makes written findings based upon substantial evidence in the record that the proposed installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon public health or safety and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact. Such findings shall include the basis for the rejection of potential feasible alternatives for preventing the adverse impact. Such decisions may be appealed to the board of appeals established in Section 12.110.020.

D. Any condition imposed on an application shall be designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety at the lowest possible cost. The city shall use its best efforts to ensure that the selected method, condition, or mitigation meets the conditions of Civil Code Section (d)(1)(A) through (B).

E. City shall not condition approval of an application on the approval of an association, as defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code.

F. If an application is deemed incomplete, a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance shall be sent to the applicant for resubmission.

G. Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the building and safety division for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review.

H. The inspection shall be done in a timely manner and should include consolidated inspections. An inspection will be scheduled within two business days of a request.

I. If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized but need not conform to the requirements of this chapter. (Ord. No. 2015-011, § 1, 9-21-15)

The city council may establish by resolution the fees that shall be charged for permits issued under this chapter. (Ord. No. 2015-011, § 1, 9-21-15)

If any section, subsection, phrase, or clause of this chapter is for any reason held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter. The city council of the city of San Buenaventura hereby declares that it would have passed the ordinance codified in this chapter and each section, subsection, phrase or clause thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, phrases, or clauses be declared invalid. (Ord. No. 2015-011, § 1, 9-21-15)