A. Prior to installing small residential rooftop solar energy system, a residential solar installation application shall be submitted to the city's Building Division for review and approval. The application shall contain all information and supporting documentation required by the provisions of the most recent California Solar Permitting Guidebook checklist, or a similar checklist deemed equal by the Building Official for small rooftop solar energy systems (“checklist”).
B. The applicant may submit the permit application and supporting documentation to the city's Building Division by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal, together with any required permit processing and inspection fee as may be established by resolution of the City Council. In the case of electronic submittal, the electronic signature of the applicant on all forms, applications and other documentation may be used in lieu of a wet signature.
C. 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 wind, 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 photovoltaic electrical loads.
3. Verify all applicable standards are consistent with the provisions contained in the California Solar Permitting Guidebook as adopted by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.
D. At time of submittal the city shall review the application and shall:
1. Confirm the application, and supporting documents are complete and meet the requirements of the checklist, and that the system is consistent with this chapter. Upon confirmation, the city shall approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.
2. Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the city shall issue a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.
E. For a small residential rooftop solar energy system meeting the requirements of this chapter, 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. If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, a subsequent inspection at the applicant's expense may be conducted.
(Ord. 1178, passed 9-15-15)