2015-13 rooftop solar systems ORDINANCE 2015-13
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA ADDING CHAPTER 23.13 TO THE ENCINITAS
MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROVIDE AN EXPEDITED, STREAMLINED PERMITTING PROCESS
FOR SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEMS
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Encinitas seeks to implement AB 2188
(Chapter 521, Statutes 2014) through the creation of an expedited, streamlined permitting
process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems, and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to advance the use of solar energy by all of its
citizens, businesses and industries, and
WHEREAS, the City Council seeks to meet the climate action goals set by the City of
Encinitas Climate Action Plan Residential Building Strategies R-3, R-4, and R-5 regarding
installation of solar photovoltaic systems on existing and all new single-family residential homes,
and
WHEREAS, solar energy creates local jobs and economic opportunity; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that rooftop solar energy provides reliable
energy and pricing for its residents and businesses, and
WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the health, welfare and safety of the people of the City
of Encinitas to provide an expedited permitting process to assure the effective deployment of
solar technology
WHEREAS, Subsection (a) of Section 65850 5 of the California Government Code
provides that it is the policy of the State to promote and encourage the installation and use of
solar energy systems by limiting obstacles to their use and by minimizing the permitting costs of
such systems, and
WHEREAS, Subdivision (g)(1) of Section 65850 5 of the California Government Code
provides that, on or before September 30, 2015, every city, county, or city and county shall
adopt an ordinance, consistent with the goals and intent of subdivision (a) of Section 65850 5,
that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for small residential rooftop solar
energy systems
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Encinitas hereby ordains as follows
SECTION ONE:
Chapter 23 13, SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEMS, establishing an
expedited, streamlined permitting process for Small Residential Rooftop Solar Systems, is
hereby added to the City of Encinitas Municipal Code to read as shown in Exhibit A.
SECTION TWO:
SEVERABILITY If any section, subsection, phrase, or clause of this ordinance is for any
reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such
decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance The City Council
hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinance and each section, subsection, phrase
or clause thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, phrases, or
clauses be declared unconstitutional
SECTION THREE:
Notwithstanding the above findings, the City is unable to comply with the requirement set
forth in Government Code Section 65850 5 (g)(1) stating that the City "shall authorize the
electronic signature on all forms, applications, and other documentation in lieu of a wet
signature by an applicant." The City does not have a system in place that is capable of verifying
an electronic signature as required by Government Code Section 16 5 Moreover, the
California Secretary of State procedures allow the use of electronic signatures only if they could
be verified using Public Key Cryptology (PKI) or Signature Dynamics technologies (2 C C R.
§22003 ) Unfortunately these technologies add complexity and expense to the requirement
promulgated by Section 65850 5 (g)(1) and the City is not in a financial position nor does it have
the infrastructure to deploy such technology Accordingly, based on the reasons set forth
herein, the City has determined that it is unable to authorize the acceptance of an electronic
signature on all forms, applications, and other documents in lieu of a wet signature by an
applicant for a small residential rooftop solar energy system
SECTION FOUR
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING. The City Council finds in its independent judgment, that
the proposed amendment to the Municipal Code is exempt from environmental review as per
Section 15308 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, which exempts
actions taken by regulatory agency for protection of the environment where the regulatory
process provides procedures for protection of the environment. None of the exceptions in
CEQA Guidelines Section 15300 2 exist. Notwithstanding the exemption as per Section 15308,
the City Council further finds that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant
effect on the environment; therefore pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines
the activity is exempt from the provisions of CEQA.
SECTION FIVE:
This ordinance was introduced on 15th day of July, 2015 and shall be effective
September 30, 2015
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 19th day of July, 2015 by the following vote to wit:
AYES Blakespear, Gaspar, Kranz, Muir, Shaffer
NAYS None
ABSTAIN None
ABSENT None
istin Gaspar, y
City of Encinitas
ATTESTATION AND CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of Ordinance No 2015-13 which has been
published pursuant to law
A,�4 AW e)
Kathy Ho ywoo , City Clerk
EXHIBIT A
CHAPTER 23.13
SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEMS
23.13.010 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an expedited, streamlined
solar permitting process that complies with the Solar Rights Act and AB 2188 (Chapter 521,
Statutes 2014, California Government Code Section 65850 5) in order to achieve timely and
cost-effective installations of small residential rooftop solar energy systems This chapter
encourages the use of solar systems by removing unreasonable barriers, minimizing costs to
property owners and the city and facilitating property owners to install solar energy systems
This chapter allows the city to achieve those goals while protecting the public health and safety
23.13.020 Definitions
The following definitions shall apply to this chapter-
A. "Electronic submittal" means the utilization of one or more of the following
1 e-mail
2 the internet
3 facsimile
B "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 and paragraph
(iii) of subdivision (c) of Section 714 of the Civil Code, 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 City of Encinitas
C "Solar energy system" has the same meaning set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2)
of subdivision (a) of Section 801 5 of the Civil Code, as such section or subdivision may be
amended, renumbered, or redesignated from time to time
D "Eligibility Checklist" means the submittal checklist required by the City of
Encinitas to be submitted with the small residential rooftop solar energy system demonstrating
compliance
E. "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
F. "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
G "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 one
thousand dollars ($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 one thousand dollars
($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
23.13.030 Applicability
A. This chapter 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 the ordinance codified in 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 or like-kind replacements shall
not require a permit.
23.13.040 Solar Energy System Requirements
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 commercial or 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
D Solar energy systems shall comply with all applicable height limits, except that
solar panels may be added to a previously conforming structure that does not conform to the
existing height limit if the proposed solar panels do not exceed the height of the existing
structure, consistent with the California Solar Rights Act.
23.13.050 Applications and Documents
A. All documents required for the submission of an expedited solar energy system
application shall be made available on the City website
B. Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by email,
fax, or the Internet shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system
permit applicants
C The Planning and Building Department shall adopt an eligibility checklist of all
requirements with which small residential rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be
eligible for expedited review
D 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
E. The permit application and associated documentation may be submitted to the
Building Division in person, by mail, or by electronic submittal together with required permit
processing and inspection fees
F The small residential rooftop solar system permit process and eligibility checklist
shall substantially conform to recommendations for expedited permitting contained in the most
current version of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook adopted by the Governor's Office of
Planning and Research
23.13.060 Permit Review and Inspection Requirements
A. The Planning and Building Department shall implement an administrative,
nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy
systems
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 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
D Upon confirmation by the Building Official of the application and supporting
documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the eligibility 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
E The Building Official may require an applicant to apply for a Minor 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 city Planning Commission If a Minor Use Permit is required, the city may deny such
application if it makes written findings based upon substantive 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, as defined, the adverse impact.
Such findings shall include the basis for the rejection of the potential feasible alternative for
preventing the adverse impact. Such decisions may be appealed to the city Planning
Commission
F Any condition imposed on an application shall be designed to mitigate the
specific, adverse impact upon health and safety at the lowest possible cost.
G "A feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact"
includes, but is not limited to, any cost-effective method, condition, or mitigation imposed by the
City on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for a permit. The
City shall use its best efforts to ensure that the selected method, condition, or mitigation meets
the conditions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 714 of
the Civil Code defining restrictions that do not significantly increase the cost of the system or
decrease its efficiency or specified performance
H Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the Building Division for
small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review A separate fire
inspection may be performed if necessary
I The inspection shall be done in a timely manner and should include consolidated
inspections
J 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 section