§ 718-12.004. Review of applications for small residential rooftop solar energy systems.

The following expedited, streamlined permitting process applies to applications for a building permit to install a small residential rooftop solar energy system:

(a)

Application. The building official will make the following available on the County website: the County's standard building permit application form; and the County's standard small residential rooftop solar energy system plan form and checklist, which will substantially conform to the plan form and checklist in the most current version of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research. The checklist will include all requirements that a small residential rooftop solar energy system must meet to be eligible for review and approval under this section. An application to install a small residential rooftop solar energy system may be submitted electronically.

(b)

Application Review. An application will be deemed complete if the building official determines that the application includes all of the information and documents required by the standard application form, the standard plan form, and the standard checklist. If an application is deemed incomplete, the building official will notify the applicant in writing of the additional information needed to complete the application. After an application is deemed complete, the building official will perform an expedited review of the application and all submittals in substantial conformance with the timeline set forth in the then-current edition of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.

(c)

Permit Issuance. A building permit will be issued following the building official's approval of an application for a small residential rooftop solar energy system and after all required fees have been paid. If the application was submitted electronically, the permit may be issued electronically.

(d)

Inspection and Authorization to Operate. As soon as practicable after the applicant notifies the building official that a small residential rooftop solar energy system has been installed under a building permit, the building official will inspect the system to verify compliance with the building permit. If the building official determines that a system was not installed in compliance with a building permit, the building official will notify the permittee of the actions needed to comply with the building permit and will conduct additional inspections as necessary. No small residential rooftop solar energy system may be operated unless the building official verifies in writing that it complies with the building permit.

(e)

For purposes of this section, a "small residential rooftop solar energy system" means a solar energy system that meets all of the following requirements:

(1)

The system is no larger than ten kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating, or thirty kilowatts thermal; and

(2)

The system, including its installation, conforms to all applicable fire, building, electrical, and other standard codes in this title; and

(3)

The system conforms to all applicable requirements of Civil Code Section 714; and

(4)

The system is located on a rooftop of a detached single-family dwelling or a duplex; and

(5)

The system, when installed on a rooftop, does not exceed the building height limit of the zoning district in which it is located.

(Ord. No. 2015-13, § II, 7-7-15)