West Covina Municipal Code § 7-223 Guidelines for solar photovoltaic installation

Except as otherwise provided in this article, the 2000 Editions of the Uniform Solar Energy Code, prepared and copyrighted in Whittier, California, by the International Conference of Building Officials, which on October 1, 2002, were made a public record of the city, including all appendices and indices, are hereby adopted and made part hereof as if fully set out in this section. One (1) file of this code shall be kept on file in the office of the city clerk for public inspection. In the event of any conflict or ambiguity between any provision contained in such codes set forth above and any amendment thereto contained in this article or other provision of the Municipal Code, the amendment or addition shall control.

(Ord. No. 1531, § 1, 2-22-82; Ord. No. 1666, § 1, 4-22-85; Ord. No. 1771, § 1, 3-14-88; Ord. No. 1831, § 1, 12-11-89; Ord. No. 1903, § 1, 6-16-92; Ord. No. 1960, § 2, 11-21-95; Ord. No. 2033, § 2, 6-1-99; Ord. No. 2083, § 2, 10-1-02)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2033, § 2, adopted June 1, 1999, repealed in their entirety the provisions of § 7-221 which pertained to definitions regarding the uniform solar energy code. For a detailed history of the provisions of former § 7-221, please refer to the Code Comparative Table.

Section 20.3 of the Code adopted by section 7-220 of this Municipal Code is hereby amended as follows:

"Sec. 20.3 VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to install, remove, alter, repair or replace or cause to be installed, removed, altered, repaired or replaced any solar equipment without first obtaining a permit from the administrative authority. A separate permit shall be obtained for each building or structure, except that a single permit may be issued for a single-family residence and a building or building accessory thereto when both are constructed at the same time. No person shall allow any other person to do or cause to be done any work under permit secured by a permittee except in his employ.

Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this Code shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion [thereof during which any violation] of this Code is committed, continued or permitted, and upon conviction of any such violation such person shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Every permit issued by the administrative authority under the provisions of this Code shall expire by limitation and become null and void, if the work authorized by such permit is not commenced within one hundred twenty (120) days from date of issuance of such permit, or if the work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days. Before such work can be recommenced, a new permit shall be first obtained, and the fee shall be one-half the amount required for a new permit for such work, provided no changes have been made or will be made in the original plans and specifications for such work, and provided, further that such suspension or abandonment has not exceeded one (1) year.

(Ord. No. 1531, § 1, 2-22-82; Ord. No. 1666, § 1, 4-22-85; Ord. No. 1771, § 1, 3-14-88)

The purpose of this ordinance is to provide for the public safety of the citizens and public safety personnel of the City of West Covina by setting forth guidelines for the installation of solar photovoltaic systems on structures. The provisions of the document entitled Guidelines for Solar Photovoltaic Installation dated March 16, 2010, based on the final draft photovoltaic installation guideline developed by the California State Fire Marshal with the exception of formatting, clarifying language and additional provisions pertaining to the requirement of a remote disconnect are hereby adopted and made part of the code by reference.

(Ord. No. 2207, § 1, 5-4-2010)