The Board of Trustees of the Village of Oyster Bay Cove determines
that it is in the best interest of its residents to set forth regulations
establishing standards for the safe installation of residential solar
energy systems discussed herein under federal and state laws, statutes,
rules and regulations.
The proliferation of residential solar energy systems as an
environmentally friendly and cheaper energy alternative is expected
in the coming years, and this equipment and the installation thereof
must be reasonably regulated in order to protect the health, safety
and welfare of the citizens of the Village of Oyster Bay Cove and,
to the maximum degree possible, to coordinate and control the same
to preserve and protect the aesthetic qualities of the Village of
Oyster Bay Cove and its neighbors. The Village recognizes the demand
for residential solar energy systems and the need for the services
they provide. This article regulates standard installations only,
as defined herein. The intent of this article is to create a streamlined
application process and to ensure that any proposed solar energy system
is designed, built and located with sound planning by:
A. Promoting the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the
Village.
B. Minimizing adverse visual effects of solar energy systems and protecting
the natural features, aesthetics and residential character of the
Village through careful planning, design, location, buffering and
screening. To the greatest extent possible, the footprint of the solar
energy system and any ancillary structure shall be minimized.
C. Avoiding potential damage to adjacent properties from solar electric
panels or falling debris through reasonable engineering and careful
siting of solar energy system structures.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
APPROVED CONTRACTOR
For purposes of this article, a contractor whose credentials
were reviewed and approved by either the Building Inspector or the
Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) as evidenced by the list, to be
maintained and published by LIPA, of installers whose credentials
have been prescreened.
APPROVED EQUIPMENT
Solar panel equipment for a standard installation that shall
include the following:
A.
Photovoltaic (PV) panels certified by a nationally recognized
testing laboratory as meeting the requirements of the Underwriters'
Laboratories (UL) Standard 1703;
B.
Inverters 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 Standard 1741; and
C.
Residential solar hot water (RSHW) equipment certified by the
Solar Rating and Certification Corporation under its OG-100 standard
for solar collectors.
APPROVED INSPECTOR
For purposes of this article, electrical underwriters who
are already required to perform the electrical inspection of the system
and who certify that they have been trained to perform the third-party
PV inspection, or a third party designated by LIPA on a list of trained
PV inspectors maintained by LIPA.
PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEM
A system which uses one or more solar panels to convert sunlight
into electricity. It consists of multiple components, including, but
not limited to, the photovoltaic modules, mechanical and electrical
connections and mountings, and means of regulating and/or modifying
the electrical output.
SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATIONS
Solar electric panel and solar hot water installations where
the installation is to be flush mounted on a residential roof and
to be installed by an approved contractor using approved equipment.
STANDARD INSTALLATION
For purposes of this article, a solar energy system, connected
to LIPA's electrical grid, with a gravity roof load of no more
than five pounds per square foot for photovoltaic (PV) and six pounds
per square foot for residential solar hot water (RSHW), that is flush
mounted, using a racking system approved by a licensed New York State
professional engineer or registered architect on a residential roof
with an eighteen-inch-wide clear path at the roof ridge.
Before approval and issuance of a permit for a grid-tied photovoltaic
(PV) system or a residential solar hot water (RSHW) system, the applicant
shall submit:
A. A completed Fast-Track Permit Requirements Checklist on the Building
Inspector's approved form.
B. Three sets of plans which include:
(1) A cover sheet identifying the:
(a)
Project address, map, section, block and lot number of the property;
(b)
Owner's name, address and phone number; and
(c)
Name, address and phone number of the person preparing the plans;
(2) A sheet index indicating each sheet title and number;
(3) A legend for symbols, abbreviations and notations used in the drawings;
(4) Configuration diagrams prepared by a professional engineer or registered
architect (see samples) which are sketched (hand-drawn or better) as follows:
(a)
A roof diagram depicting modules or collectors and racking configuration
on designated surface(s), to scale, and dimensioned. The diagram should
include any eighteen-inch clearance/access required as noted in the
Fast-Track Permit Requirements Checklist criteria.
(b)
An equipment location diagram indicating the location(s) of:
[1]
The modules or collectors;
[2]
The main electrical service;
[4]
All equipment disconnects on the outside of the structure (e.g.,
the A/C disconnect);
[5]
Any interior equipment locations.
(c)
A one-line standard electrical diagram.
(5) A property survey, if the system is proposed for an accessory structure.
C. A Fast-Track Project Information Sheet on the Building Inspector's
approved form.
The Village of Oyster Bay Cove reserves the right to inspect
and certify all applications, but hereby authorizes third-party inspections
and certifications by approved inspectors which are to be paid for
by the applicant before issuance of a permit. Such third-party inspectors
must supply the Village with proof that they have received the appropriate
training in evaluating solar installations based on nationally recognized
guidelines.
If a solar energy system ceases to perform its originally intended
function for more than 12 consecutive months, the property owner shall
remove the solar energy system and all primary and secondary equipment
and facilities by no later than 90 days after the end of the twelve-month
period.