HomeMy Public PortalAbout11 Adding Section 15.02.080 to Truckee Municipal Code Pertaining to Permitting Procedures for Small Residential Rooftop Solar Systems TOWN OF TRUCKEE
111 California
ORDINANCE 2015-11
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF TRUCKEE
ADDING SECTION 15.02.080 TO THE TRUCKEE MUNICIPAL CODE
PERTAINING TO PERMITTING PROCEDURES FOR
SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEMS
WHEREAS, Section 65850.5(a) 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, Section 65850.5(g) of the California Government Code requires every city
and county in California to adopt, on or before September 30, 2015, an ordinance that creates
an expedited, streamlined permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems;
The Town Council of the Town of Truckee Does Ordain as Follows:
Section 1. Enactment. Chapter 15.02 of Truckee Municipal Code is hereby amended l;
by adding a new Section 15.02.080 to read as follows:
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15.02.080 Small Residential Rooftop Solar Energy System Review Process
A. The intent of this section is to comply with the requirements of Government Code
Section 65850.5 regarding the establishment of an expedited permitting process for
small residential rooftop solar energy systems.
B. The following words and phrases as used in this section are defined as follows:
"Electronic submittal" means a submittal made by email, the Internet, and/or
facsimile.
"Small residential rooftop solar energy system" means a system that meets all of
the following criteria:
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 Town, 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.
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4. A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal
building height as defined by the authority having jurisdiction.
"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.
C. The Town's building official is hereby authorized and directed to develop, adopt,
and maintain a checklist of the requirements with which a small residential rooftop solar
energy system project must comply in order to be entitled to expedited processing. The
checklist shall be published on the Town's website.
D. The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation
to the Town's building division 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.
E. 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.
F. For a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review, only
one inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner and may
include a consolidated inspection by the Town's building official and a representative of
the Truckee Fire Protection District. 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 subsection.
G. 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.
H. 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 a utility provider's electricity grid. The
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applicant is responsible for obtaining such appfoval or permission from the local utility
provider.
Section 2. Severability. If any section, subsection, phrase, or clause of this
ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity
of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The Town 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 3. Summary Publication and Posting. Within thirty (30) days after final
adoption of this ordinance, the Town Clerk shall have a summary of the ordinance prepared by
the Town Attorney and published as required. Within fifteen (15) days after final adoption of this
ordinance, the Town Clerk shall have it posted in the three (3) public places designated by
resolution of the Council.
The foregoing ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the Truckee Town
Council held on the 11i" day of August 2015, and adopted at a regular meeting of the
Truckee Town Council, on the 25th day of August, 2015; Council Member Wallace Dee,
moved for the adoption, the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor deRyk Jones, and was
carried by the following vote:
AYES: Council Member Wallace Dee, Vice Mayor deRyk Jones, Council
Member Goodwin, Council Member Flora and Mayor Barr.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ti
Alicia Barr, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Ju•y Pr'ce, MM up own Clerk Andy Morris, Town Attorney
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