CC Ordinance 2193ORDINANCE NO. 2193
BEING AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF CAMPBELL ADDING SECTION
18.04.060 TO THE CAMPBELL MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATING TO EXPEDITIED PERMITTING
PROCEDURES FOR SMALL RESIDENTIAL
ROOFTOP PHOTO-VOLTAIC SYSTEMS.
WHEREAS, Subsection (a) of Section 65850.5 of the California Government
Code provides that it is the policy of the State to promote and encourage the
installation and use of solar energy systems by limiting obstacles to their use and
by minimizing the permitting costs of such systems; and
WHEREAS, Subdivision (g)(1) of Section 65850.5 of the California Government
Code provides that, on or before September 30, 2015, every city, county, or city
and county shall adopt an ordinance, consistent with the goals and intent of
subdivision (a) of Section 65850.5, that creates an expedited, streamlined
permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CAMPBELL DOES
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 18.04.060 Added. Section 18.04.060 is added to the
Campbell Municipal Code to read in full as follows:
Section 18.04.060 Small Residential Rooftop Photo-Voltaic Energy Systems
Review Process.
A. The following words and phrases as used in this section are defined as
follows:
"Electronic submittal" means the utilization of one or more of the following:
1. a-mail
2. the Internet
3. facsimile
"Small residential rooftop solar energy systems" 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 paragraph (iii) of subdivision (c) of
Section 714 of the Civil Code, 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 paragraphs (1)
and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 801.5 of the Civil Code, as such
section or subdivision may be amended, renumbered, or redesignated
from time to time.
B. Section 65850.5 of the California Government Code provides that in
developing an expedited permitting process for small residential rooftop solar
energy systems, the City shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which
small rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited
review. The building official is hereby authorized and directed to develop and
adopt such checklist.
C. The Checklist shall be published on the city's Internet website. The
applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the
City's building division by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal, the electronic
signature of the applicant on all forms, applications and other documentation may
be used in lieu of a wet signature, unless the City specifies in writing the reasons
for its inability to accept electronic signatures.
D. 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 wined, 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
photo-voltaic electrical loads
E. 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. However, a separate fire inspection may be performed if the City does not
have an agreement in place with your local fire authority to conduct a fire safety
inspection on behalf of the fire authority. 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.
F. 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.
G. 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.
SECTION 2. Severability. If any section, subsection, phrase, or clause of this
ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not
affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance.
The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinance and
each section, subsection, phrase or clause thereof irrespective of the fact that
any one or more sections, subsections, phrases, or clauses be declared
unconstitutional.
SECTION 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after
passage thereof.
SECTION 4. Publication. This ordinance shall be published in accordance with
the provisions of Government Code Section 36933.
Passed and adopted this 20~h day of October 2015, by the following roll call vote
of the City Council of the City of Campbell:
AYES: Councilmembers: Gibbons, Resnikoff, Kotowski, Baker, Cristina
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSTAINED: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
APPROVED:
ATTEST: ~V,r,
Wen ood, ity Clerk