City of Santa Rosa, CA

Initial Status: Solar PV specific permit application available for residential systems only

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Permit application form online

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Electronic submittal not currently available

Guidance: Allow email submittal of permit application forms for qualifying projects.

Initial Status: 1 submittal

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Process information available online

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Within 3 business days residential, 6-15 business days commercial; expedited process available

Guidance: City currently at best practice for residential projects and expedited permitting. Consider issuing or denying commercial permits within 5 business days.

Initial Status: Permit fee of $199 for residential projects

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Commercial permit fee structured as open-ended valuation

Guidance: Permit fee for commercial systems is based on cost recovery or a flat fee no more than $1,000 for systems <50 kW, plus $7 for every kW between 51 kW and 250 kW, plus $5 for every kW over 250 kW. Open-ended valuation based fee structures are inconsistent with State law.

Initial Status: Within 2 business days

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: 2 hour appointment window

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Single comprehensive inspection

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: A standard inspection checklist for PV systems is not currently used

Guidance: Utilize a standard inspection checklist for PV systems. The checklist serves as a guide for inspectors and installers containing points of emphasis and common issues.

Initial Status: Approval from structural engineer not required for residential systems

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Current knowledge level of staff regarding recent solar standards unknown.

Guidance: Permitting department understands latest changes to the 2013 California Building, Residential, and Fire Codes that apply to Solar PV installations.

Initial Status: Working on adopting an ordinance

Initial Status: No local ordinance for solar rights and access

Guidance: Create local ordinances that go beyond the CA Solar Rights Act and Solar Shade Control Act, which would protect property owners' right to install solar and ensure their property has unobstructed access to direct sunlight.

Initial Status: City has adopted a renewable energy ordinance that supports solar installations

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Solar development has been used to reach greenhouse gas reduction targets

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Most buildings zoned for solar under special use regulations, but not all

Guidance: Restrictive covenants must be appropriately minimized in order to maximize local opportunities to harness and benefit from solar energy. View special use standards at: http://www.sonoma-county.org/prmd/docs/renewable_energy/allowed_uses_req.pdf

Initial Status: Special use standards for solar installations in historical and viewshed areas

Guidance: Ensure the zoning codes and ordinances that govern solar installations in aesthetically sensitive areas do not adversely affect property owners' ability to install solar. Allow staff members to review and approve applications when possible rather than requiring committee or planning commission review. CA Solar Rights Act requires that local governments use an administrative, non-discretionary review process for on-site solar energy systems that do not place restrictions on visual or aesthetic concerns.

Initial Status: PACE financing available through Sonoma County Energy Independence Program

Guidance: City currently at best practice. Information available at: http://residential.sonomacountyenergy.org/lower.php?url=pace-financing-1614.

Initial Status: Green loans offered by local financial institutions for solar financing

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Solar Sonoma County offers online resources for financing and evaluation

Guidance: City currently at best practice. This information can be found for residential customers at: http://www.solarsonomacounty.org/uploads/documents/newFINALresidential-incentives-SONOMA.pdf; and commercial customers at: http://www.solarsonomacounty.org/uploads/documents/FINALcommercial-incentivesSONOMA.pdf.

Initial Status: Exploring larger solar projects on waste treatment plants

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: No known solar development at local brownfield sites.

Guidance: Establish a working group to identify Brownfield sites and solar development options across the state, following the best practices and case studies provided. Share information with market stakeholders.

Initial Status: Workforce development resources for solar industry available through Solar Sonoma County

Guidance: City currently at best practice. Industry resources are available at: http://www.solarsonomacounty.org/Programs/Clean-Energy-Employment.aspx

Initial Status: Sonoma County Energy Independence Program provides educational resources for solar

Guidance: City currently at best practice. Educational resources are available at: http://www.solarsonomacounty.org/Programs/Educational-Resources.aspx.