§ 9-1.1806. Permit Review and Inspection.

(a)

The Building Official shall implement an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems. The Building Official shall review the permit application within three (3) business days upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan. The Building Official may require an applicant to apply for a use permit if the Building Official finds, based on substantial 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 Planning Commission.

(b)

The Building Official's review of the application shall be limited to review of whether the application meets all local, state, and federal health and safety requirements.

(c)

If a use permit is required, the Building Official may deny an application for the use permit only if the Building Official makes written findings based upon substantial 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 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 Planning Commission.

(d)

Any condition imposed on an applicant by the Building Official 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, 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 does not significantly increase the cost of the system or decrease its efficiency or specified performance.

(f)

If an application is deemed incomplete, the Building Official shall send the applicant a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.

(g)

Only one (1) inspection shall be required and performed by the Building and Safety Services Department for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review.

(h)

The inspection shall be done in a timely manner and should include consolidated inspections. The solar energy systems contractor shall be present for the inspection with the Building and Safety Services Department. An inspection shall be scheduled within five (5) business days of a request and all reasonable efforts will be made by the City to perform the inspection during a scheduling window of no more than two (2) hours. If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails an inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized and the subsequent inspection need not conform to the requirements of this Ordinance (j) Upon confirmation by the Building Official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the Building Official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations. Such approval does not authorize an applicant to connect the small residential rooftop energy system to the local utility provider's electricity grid. The applicant is responsible for obtaining such approval or permission from the local utility provider.

(Ord. 3636-C.S., § 1, effective 10-8-15)