means either of the following:
Any solar collector or other solar energy device whose primary
purpose is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution
of solar energy for space heating, space cooling, electric generation,
or water heating.
Any structure design feature of a building, whose primary purpose
is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar
energy for electricity generation, space heating or cooling, or for
water heating.
means all of the following:
A solar energy system that is no larger than ten kilowatts alternating
current nameplate rating of thirty kilowatts thermal.
A solar energy system that conforms to all applicable state,
fire, structural, electrical, and other building codes as adopted
or amended by the city of Glendora and all state and Los Angeles County
health and safety standards.
A solar energy system that is installed on a single or duplex
family dwelling.
A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum
legal building height as defined by the city of Glendora.
means the utilization of one or more of the following:
means a nonprofit corporation or unincorporated association
created for the purpose of managing a common interest development.
means any of the following:
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.
in a solar energy system are those restrictions that do no
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.
means:
For water heater systems or solar swimming pool heating systems:
an amount exceeding ten percent of the cost of the system, but in
no case more than one thousand dollars, or decreasing the efficiency
of the solar energy system by an amount exceeding ten percent, as
originally specified and proposed.
For photovoltaic systems: an amount not to exceed one thousand
dollars over the cost as originally specified and proposed, or a decrease
in system efficiency of an amount exceeding ten percent as originally
specified and proposed.
(Ord. 1998 § 1, 2015)
The purpose of this chapter is to adopt an expedited, streamlined
solar permitting process that complies with Solar Rights Act and AB
2188 (Chapter 521, Statutes 2014) to achieve timely and cost-effective
installations of small residential rooftop solar energy systems. The
chapter encourages the use of solar systems by removing unreasonable
barriers, minimizing costs to property owners and the city of Glendora,
and expanding the ability of property owners to install solar energy
systems. The chapter allows the city of Glendora to achieve these
goals while protecting the public health and safety.
(Ord. 1998 § 1, 2015)
This chapter applies to the permitting of all small residential
rooftop solar energy systems in the city of Glendora. 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.
(Ord. 1998 § 1, 2015)
(a)
All solar energy systems shall meet applicable health and safety
standards, and requirements imposed by the state of California and
the city of Glendora and Los Angeles County fire department.
(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 Codes.
(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.
(Ord. 1998 § 1, 2015)
(a)
All documents required for submission of an expedited solar energy
system application shall be made available on the publicly accessible
city of Glendora website. The permit application form may also be
downloaded at energycenter.org/PermittingToolkit.
(b)
At such time as an electronic plan check submittal procedure is established
by the city of Glendora, these submittals will be made available to
all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applications.
(c)
At such time as an electronic signature procedure is established
by the city of Glendora, an applicant's electronic signature shall
be accepted on all forms, applications, and other documents in lieu
of a wet signature.
(d)
The building official shall implement the use of plan check submittal
requirements, an eligibility checklist, a solar standard plan and
an inspection guide checklist, including all requirements with which
small residential rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be
eligible for expedited review.
(e)
The small residential rooftop solar system permit process, standard
plan(s), and checklist(s) shall substantially conform to recommendations
for expedited permitting, including the checklist and standard plans
contained in the most current version of the California Solar
Permitting Guidebook adopted by the Governor's Office of
Planning and Research.
(f)
All fees prescribed for the permitting of small residential rooftop
solar energy system must comply with Government Code Section 65850.555,
Government Code Section 66015, Government Code Section 66016, and
State Health and Safety Code Section 17951.
(Ord. 1998 § 1, 2015)
(a)
The building division shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary
permit within three days of receipt of a complete application that
meets the requirements of the expedited approved checklist and standard
plan. The building official may require an applicant to apply for
a conditional use permit if the official finds, based on submittal
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 of Glendora planning commission.
(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 a conditional use permit is required, a building official may
deny an application for the use permit if the official 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 of Glendora planning commission.
(d)
Any condition imposed on an application shall be designed to mitigate
the specific, adverse impact upon health and safety at the lowest
possible cost.
(e)
"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 of Glendora 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.
(f)
The city shall not condition approval of an application on the approval
of an association, as defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code.
(g)
If an application is deemed incomplete, a written plan check correction
notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional
information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited
permit issuance shall be given to the applicant for resubmission.
(h)
Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the building
division for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible
for expedited review. On some submittals a separate fire inspection
may be required and performed by the Los Angeles County fire department
for their safety requirements.
(i)
The inspection shall be done in a timely manner and should include
consolidated inspections. An inspection will be scheduled within two
business days of a request and provide a two-hour inspection window.
(j)
If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection,
a subsequent inspection is authorized but need not conform to the
requirements of this chapter. If additional inspections are required
a re-inspection fee may apply.
(Ord. 1998 § 1, 2015)
