(A) Code compliance. All solar energy installations shall be in compliance with applicable building codes and the National Electric Code (NEC) Article 690.
(B) Certified components. All components of a solar energy installation shall be certified as Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) listed, Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL) listed or certified by a similar certification organization acceptable to the township.
(C) Application for zoning compliance permit of residential solar. Residential solar installations require a zoning compliance permit. An application for a zoning compliance permit shall include the following:
(1) Photographs of the property’s existing conditions;
(2) Renderings or catalog cuts of the proposed solar energy system;
(3) Plot/sketch plan to indicate where the solar energy system is to be installed on the property (or, if building-mounted, the system’s location on the permanent building), including property setbacks and the total solar collector surface area;
(4) Elevations showing the height of the solar energy system:
(a) For ground-mounted solar systems, the height of the system above ground;
(b) For pitched roof-mounted solar systems, the elevation must show the highest finished height of the system and the height of the finished roof surface on which it is mounted; and
(c) For flat roof-mounted solar energy systems, the elevations shall show the highest finished height of the system and the highest point of the roof, including any parapets on the building.
(5) Description of the screening to be provided for ground or building-mounted solar energy equipment;
(6) Any solid and hazardous waste generated during installation or removal of the PV system, shall be disposed of in accordance with local, state and federal waste disposal regulations; and
(7) The PV panels shall be located to minimize reflected glare on adjacent properties and roadways.
(D) Exclusions from zoning compliance permit. The following situation does not require a zoning compliance permit, but shall still comply with all other standards of this subchapter: repair and replacement of existing solar energy equipment, provided that there is no expansion of the size or coverage area of the solar energy system.
(E) Ground-mounted solar array. Ground-mounted solar arrays shall be subject to the following additional standards:
(1) Setbacks. In all zoning districts, ground-mounted solar energy systems shall be located only in the rear or side yard and shall be located at least ten feet from the property line.
(2) Height. Ground-mounted solar energy systems shall not exceed 15 feet in height, measured from the ground at the base of such equipment to the highest point of the system
(3) Wires. Wires shall be run underground from the array.
(F) Residential solar; property tax exclusion. Adding PV panels to a home could be considered to increase the value of the house and hence increase the property taxes. However, homeowners can be discouraged from installing PV due to the long payback time. To combat this problem, homeowners will not be taxed by the township for the installed costs of solar PV.
(Ord. 30.0, passed 1-8-2017)