The purpose of this chapter is to create an expedited, streamlined permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems pursuant to the requirements of Government Code Section 65850.5.
(Ord. 396 § 2, 2015)
For purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases are defined as follows:
"Checklist"
means a list of all requirements that must be met by an applicant for a system to be eligible for expedited review and for an application to be considered complete.
"Electronic submittal"
means the utilization of one or more of the following:
1. 
E-mail;
2. 
The Internet; and/or
3. 
Facsimile.
"Small residential rooftop solar energy system"
means all of the following:
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 city and Civil Code Section 714(C)(3), 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.
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 Civil Code Section 801.5(a)(1) and (2), as such section or subdivision may be amended, renumbered, or redesignated from time to time.
(Ord. 396 § 2, 2015)
A. 
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.
B. 
The checklist and any required submittal forms shall be made available on the city's website.
C. 
Electronic Submittal of Applications.
1. 
The permit application and associated documentation may be submitted to the city electronically.
2. 
All forms, applications, and other documentation may be signed electronically.
D. 
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 building official and fire chief. A separate fire inspection may be performed if required by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. 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.
E. 
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.
(Ord. 396 § 2, 2015)
A. 
Review of the application to install a small residential rooftop solar energy system shall be limited to the building official's review of whether it meets all health and safety requirements of local, state, and federal law. The requirements of local law shall be limited to those standards and regulations necessary to ensure that the solar energy system will not have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety.
B. 
Upon confirmation by the building official that the application and supporting documentation is complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the building official shall approve the application and shall issue the required building and electrical permits.
Approval by the building official does not authorize an applicant to connect the small residential rooftop energy system to a local utility provider's electricity grid. The applicant is responsible for obtaining such separate approval or permission from the local utility provider.
C. 
If the building official makes a finding, based on substantial evidence, that the solar energy system could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety, the building official may require the applicant to apply for a planning permit or similar discretionary permit.
D. 
The city may not deny an application for a use permit or similar discretionary permit to install a solar energy system unless it makes written findings based upon substantial evidence in the record that the proposed installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact. The findings shall include the basis for the rejection of potential feasible alternatives of preventing the adverse impact.
E. 
Any conditions imposed on an application to install a solar energy system shall be designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety at the lowest cost possible.
F. 
The decision of the building official pursuant to subsections C and D of this section may be appealed to the planning commission pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 17.04.022(C).
(Ord. 396 § 2, 2015)