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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