Certified solar energy equipment, facilities and devices, as
defined herein, are hereby declared to be a separate class of property
and shall constitute a classification for local taxation separate
from other classifications of real or personal property.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
CERTIFIED SOLAR ENERGY EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES OR DEVICES
Any property, including real or personal property, equipment,
facilities, or devices, certified by the local certifying authority
to be designed and used primarily for the purpose of providing for
the collection and use of incident solar energy for water heating,
space heating or cooling or other application which would otherwise
require a conventional source of energy such as petroleum products,
natural gas or electricity.
LOCAL CERTIFYING AUTHORITY
The City Division of Inspections of the Department of Public
Works. The State Board of Housing and Community Development shall
promulgate regulations setting forth criteria for certifiable solar
energy equipment.
LOCAL TAX RATE
The personal property rate for all personal property, machinery
and tools.
Tax exemption is hereby provided according to the terms of this
article for qualified personal property owners who possess certified
solar energy equipment, facilities or devices. The exemption shall
be administered by the Division of Inspections of the Public Works
Department and the Commissioner of Revenue's office according to the
general provisions of this article.
Exemption shall be granted to persons subject to the following
provisions:
A. The title of the property for which exemption is claimed is held,
or partially held, on the first day of the taxable year, by the person
or persons claiming exemption, whether or not that person initially
installed the equipment, facility or device up to a total of twenty
years' tax exemption for the originally installed equipment.
B. The Division of Inspections of the Public Works Department has determined, after examination of such equipment, facility or device that the unit primarily performs at least one of the functions set forth in §
366-39 and conforms to the requirements set by regulations of the State Board of Housing and Community Development.
C. The City Division of Inspections of the Department of Public Works
has certified to the Commissioner of Revenue that the applicant has
met all requirements qualifying such equipment, facilities or device
for exemption from taxation.
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Division of Inspections
of the Public Works Department may appeal such decision to the State
Technical Review Board, which may affirm or reverse such decision.
This exemption shall be effective in the tax year next succeeding
the year in which application for exemption is made and shall be permitted
for a term of 20 years. In the case of real estate assessed pursuant
to Code of Virginia, § 58.1-3292, the exemption shall be
effective when the real estate is first assessed, but not prior to
the date of such application for exemption.