It is the intention of the Town Board as part of its goal to
limit America's dependence on imported sources of fossil energy, cut
green house gas emissions and reduce the cost of energy for our residents
to enact a Solar Energy System Fast Track Permit process modeled on
the guideline recommendations of the Long Island Unified Solar Permitting
Initiative, composed of Suffolk County Planning Commission, Nassau
County Planning Commission and the Long Island Power Authority, whereby
the installation of standard solar energy systems can be standardized,
simplified and accelerated in towns and villages across Long Island.
All building permit applications for installations of solar
energy panels on residential and non-residential buildings, and legal
accessory structures on residentially-utilized property shall be expedited
by the Department of Engineering Services. Applications for "standard
installations" on residential and legal accessory structures on residential
property shall be determined within fourteen (14) business days of
the filing of a completed application.
[Amended 2-10-2015 by L.L. No. 15-2015]
All building permit application fees for standard installations of solar energy panels on residential structures or legal accessory structures on residentially-utilized property shall be sixty ($60) dollars, provided the installation has not been commenced or completed before a permit has been applied for or issued. In cases where installation has been commenced, the application fee shall be three (3) times the amount established in Chapter
87.
For the purpose of this Article the term "standard installation"
shall mean, those installations that meet the following criteria,
and any subsequent amendment thereto:
(1) Are not subject to architectural review or review by the Huntington
Historic Preservation Commission;
(2) Are proposed for installation on a roof with a single layer of roof
covering;
(3) Are to be flush-mounted parallel to the roof surface and no more
than six (6) inches above the surface;
(4) Have an eighteen (18) inch clearing at one side of the roof ridge
and an eighteen (18) inch clearing path to the ridge;
(5) Add a gravity roof load of no more than five (5) pounds per square
foot for photovoltaic (PV) and six (6) pounds per square foot for
residential solar hot water (RSHW);
(6) Be installed by contractors who are participating NY-Sun solar electric
installers:
[Amended 2-10-2015 by L.L. No. 15-2015]
(7) Use PV panels that have been certified by a nationally-recognized
testing laboratory as meeting the requirements of the Underwriters
Laboratory (UL) Standard 1703 and inverters must be on a list of New
York State Public Service Commission type-tested inverters which are
tested by UL or other nationally-recognized laboratories to conform
with UL 1741;
(8) Use RSHW equipment that has been certified by the Solar Rating and
Certification Corporation under its OG-100 standard for solar collectors;
(9) Use other equipment such as modules, combiner boxes and a mounting
system that have been approved for public use.
(10)
Be in full compliance with all current National Electrical Code
(NEC) requirements.
Prior to the issuance of a certificate of completion or compliance,
a sign (or decal) shall be affixed by the property owner to the utility
meter and at any alternating current (AC) disconnect switch indicating
the existence of an operating solar electric co-generation system
on site.