(A) Solar energy systems other than commercial or community solar energy systems are a permitted accessory use within the limits of the city where structures of any sort are allowed and are subject to certain requirements as set forth below. Solar carports and associated electric vehicle charging equipment are permitted accessory use on surface parking lots.
(B) Height. Solar energy systems must meet the following height requirements:
(1) Building or roof-mounted solar energy systems must not exceed the maximum allowed height permitted by the building codes adopted by the city and any other building and/or zoning codes currently in place or adopted in the future. For purposes of height measurement on flat roofs, solar energy systems will be given an equivalent exception to height standards as building-mounted mechanical devices or equipment elsewhere in this chapter.
(2) Ground or pole-mounted solar energy systems must not exceed 15 feet in height when oriented at maximum tilt.
(3) Solar carports must not exceed 20 feet in height.
(C) Setback. Solar energy systems must meet the accessory structure setback for the zoning district and principal land use associated with the lot on which the system is located, as allowed below.
(1) Roof or building-mounted solar energy systems. The collector surface and mounting devices for roof-mounted solar energy systems must not extend beyond the exterior perimeter of the building on which the system is mounted or built unless the collector and mounting system has been explicitly engineered to safely extend beyond the edge, and setback standards are not violated. Exterior piping for solar hot water systems is allowed to extend beyond the perimeter of the building on a side yard exposure. Solar collectors mounted on the sides of buildings and serving as awnings are considered to be building-integrated systems and are regulated as awnings.
(2) Ground-mounted solar energy systems. Ground-mounted solar energy systems may not extend into the side or rear setback when oriented at minimum design tilt, except as otherwise allowed in this chapter for building mechanical systems.
(D) Lot coverage. Ground-mounted systems must not exceed half the building footprint of the principal structure.
(E) Historic buildings. Solar energy systems on locally designated historic buildings must be approved by the City Council.
(F) Plan approval required. All solar energy systems shall require a permit from the city must provide a site plan for review.
(1) Plan applications. Plan applications for solar energy systems must be accompanied by to-scale horizontal and vertical (elevation) drawings. The drawings must show the system's location on the building or on the property for a ground-mounted system, including the property lines.
(2) Plan approvals. Applications that meet the design requirements of this chapter will be granted administrative approval by Wetumka Municipal Authority Superintendent. Plan approval does not indicate compliance with the Building Code or Electric Code.
(3) Plans retained. All approved plans shall be accompanied by a signed statement from the Wetumka Municipal Authority Superintendent stating the approval and shall be retained by the city for no less than ten years.
(G) Approved solar components. Electric solar energy systems components must have a UL or equivalent listing, and solar hot water systems must have an SRCC rating.
(H) Compliance with Building Code. All solar energy systems must meet local building code standards.
(I) Compliance with State Electric Code. All photovoltaic systems must comply with the Oklahoma State Electric Code.
(J) Compliance with State Plumbing Code. Solar thermal systems must comply with applicable Oklahoma State Plumbing Code requirements.
(Ord. 2024-4, passed 4-8-2024)