(a) Purpose and intent. The city recognizes the need to enable homeowners and businesses to install alternative energy systems while ensuring alternative energy system components meet city health, safety and general welfare standards. This section’s provisions are intended to:
(1) Promote the public health, safety and general welfare;
(2) Enable homeowners and businesses to install alternative energy systems to promote energy efficiency;
(3) Establish efficient and cost effective solar power system requirements; and
(4) Discourage inappropriate, poorly designed or installed alternative energy systems.
(b) Roof-mounted solar power panels. Roof-mounted solar power panels are permitted on residential and nonresidential buildings subject to:
(1) The height standards of § 21.301.10 (including the residential height envelope);
(2) If over 15 feet above the roof level, roof-mounted solar panels fall under the definition of a “tower” and would be subject to conditional use permit requirements and the tower standards in § 19.63.05; and
(3) Issuance of appropriate building/electrical permits.
(c) Ground-mounted solar power panels. Ground-mounted solar power panels are permitted subject to:
(1) The lesser of either a 30 foot setback or the required setbacks for principal structures in the underlying zoning district;
(2) The height standards of § 21.301.10 (including the residential height envelope);
(3) If over 15 feet in height, ground-mounted solar panels fall under the definition of a “tower” and would be subject to conditional use permit requirements and the tower standards in § 19.63.05;
(4) Issuance of appropriate building/electrical permits;
(5) The ground-mounted solar panel does not count toward impervious surface coverage as long as the surface under the panel is not impervious; and
(6) The ground-mounted solar panel does not count toward structure coverage limitations.
(d) Screening. Rooftop screening requirements do not apply to solar power panels.
(Ord. 2013-2, passed 2-25-2013; Ord. 2019-3, passed 1-7-2019)