Solar panels and EV chargers in Sonoma County

Upon confirmation by the building official that the application is complete and meets the requirements of the checklist, and is consistent with this chapter, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.

Not exceeding fifteen feet (15') in height, unless demonstrated by a structural engineer to meet public safety standards;

The system installation complies with required yard setbacks and lot coverage limitations of the underlying zone district, unless demonstrated that the installation does not impair sight distance for safe access to or from the property or other properties in the vicinity as determined by the director subject to a zoning permit;

Roof-mounted accessory systems and commercial facilities located on a legally established building containing the primary allowed use on the site, and/or on legally established accessory structure(s) containing use(s) allowed as accessory to the primary use, where the installations meet fire safe standards for access along the roof peak and eaves.

Sec. 7D4-7. - Permit review and inspection requirements. A. No later than September 30, 2015, the Chief Building Official of Sonoma County or his/her designee shall develop an expedited permitting process, and shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which small rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review. The process and checklist shall substantially conform to the California Solar Permitting Guidebook. B. The checklist shall be published on the county's internet website. The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the permit and resource management department by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. In the case of electronic submittal, the electronic signature of the applicant on all forms, applications and other documentation may be used in lieu of a wet signature. C. Prior to submitting an application, the applicant shall: 1. Verify 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 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. D. 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. E. 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. 1. The building official may withhold issuance if there is a violation on record for the structure under review. 2. The county shall not withhold issuance based on the approval of an association, as defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code. 3. Permits issues pursuant to this chapter shall not require clearance as to zoning considerations per Chapters 26 or 26C of this code unless specific adverse impacts are identified by the building official. Such decision, if made may be appealed pursuant to Sections 26-92-040 or 26C-331 of the Sonoma County Code. F. For a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review, only one (1) inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner. If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized. (Ord. No. 6127, § II, 8-11-2015)