Resource Library

This model ordinance, prepared by the Spring Creek Watershed Work Group in Pennsylvania, applies to the construction, modification, alteration, termination, and abandonment of all unregulated wells and boreholes that penetrate more than 20 feet below grade. Two versions of the draft well and borehole regulations have been prepared for local municipalities to consider. One draft can be used in conjunction with the Property Maintenance Code implemented by municipalities with in-house code inspection services, while the second can be adopted as a stand-alone ordinance by municipalities without a Property Maintenance Code in effect.

The EPA supplies model language for local governments ordinances aimed at protecting both groundwater and surface water resources by establishing protection overlay districts that are superimposed on current zoning districts that regulate land uses and development. Protective regulations for both groundwater and surface water can discourage certain land uses that contaminate groundwater and ensure the adequate protection of current or potential public water supply reservoirs.

A permit application form that can be used for standard, non-battery, grid-tied PV systems under 14kW. Contains the key information needed for plan review and permit. The forms are fillable PDFs which can be completed and saved electronically. This document contains all 4 versions of the electrical diagrams (string inverters, micro inverters, AC modules, and supply side connections); the applicant can choose which form to used based on system design. At the source below is a full report describing how the forms were developed and providing detailed instructions on how to fill them out.

A permit application form that can be used for PV systems meeting the following criteria: under 14kW, grid-tied. Contains the key information needed for plan review and permit. The forms are fillable PDFs which can be completed and saved electronically. The first download is for systems using miro-inverters, the second is for AC modules. At the source below is a full report describing how the forms were developed and providing detailed instructions on how to fill them out.

A permit application form that can be used for PV systems meeting the following criteria: under 14kW, grid-tied, string inverters. Contains the key information needed for plan review and permit. The forms are fillable PDFs which can be completed and saved electronically. The first download is for systems using standard load side interconnections, the second is for supply side connections. At the source below is a full report describing how the forms were developed and providing detailed instructions on how to fill them out.

A permit application form that can be used for structural review PV systems meeting certain criteria. This form is specifically designed for Colorado jurisdictions that do electrical permitting through DORA, thus it deals only with the non-electrical review. Contains the key information needed for plan review and permit. The forms are fillable PDFs which can be completed and saved electronically. At the source below is a full report describing how the forms were developed and providing additional information.

This 4 page document serves as a model for streamlining the permit process for standard residential PV systems. It contains a 13 step checklist to determine eligibility, along with a fill-in-the-blank form that collects structural information. Site plans, electrical line diagrams, and spec sheets are submitted separately. The first link downloads the form (4 pages), the second link contains instructions for local jurisdictions on how to customize the form (1 page). Visit the Source link below to learn more.

This document by the IREC provides guidelines regarding new metering for community renewable programs that can be tailored to individual state policy preferences.

This 3 page extract from the Connecticut Permitting Guide contains a model solar zoning ordinance that municipalities can pull from when creating their own ordinance. It contains sections addressing all the pertinent topics including definitions, permissible districts, setbacks, height restrictions, lot coverage, and design standards.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center implemented the "Solarize" residential solar group purchase model pioneered by the City of Portland. The first hyperlink below presents an overview of the model and the second hyperlink displays the actual RFP documents that MassCEC used to solicit solar Installers for competitive, tiered pricing for both direct-ownership and leasing or PPA models for residential and small-scale commercial solar PV installations.

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council released the document "Net Metering Model Rules" in 2009 to highlight best practices in net metering. Information on compensation for excess generation is highlighted on page 3.

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council released the document "Net Metering Model Rules" in 2009 to highlight best practices in net metering. Information on charges for metering equipment is highlighted on page 4.

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council released the document "Net Metering Model Rules" in 2009 to highlight best practices in net metering. Information on REC ownership is highlighted on page 3.

The process for single-family residential charging is often as simple as adding a 120V or 208/240V branch circuit (for Level 1 or Level 2 charging). Many local governments permit this type of electrical vehicle supply equipment with the same process used for a standard electrical appliance. The California Governor's Office of Planning and Research provides San Francisco’s permit to showcase one example of a standard electrical appliance application that local governments could work from and modify for their needs and requirements.

This document contains model language for solar access and solar easement ordinances.

Boulder's solar access ordinance outlines a process through which a solar access permit is granted and enforceable by the beneficiary, if the permit has been properly recorded in real property records. This first hyperlink displays the relevant section of the ordinance (see the yellow highlighted text on page 4 of the document). The second hyperlink displays a guide to the City's solar access law and provisions, including details on how the shadow lengths and corresponding setback distances are calculated

The County of Santa Cruz has developed a process for registering solar energy systems to provide additional protection to solar energy system owners. The hyperlink below displays model solar access code language that can be used as a model for jurisdictions interested in helping residents and business protect their solar investments.

Utah's solar easement statute stipulates that parties may voluntarily enter into written solar easement contracts that are enforceable by law. An easement must be created in writing and filed, duly recorded and indexed in the office of the recorder of the county in which the easement is granted. The hyperlink below displays the text of the statute.

This resource offers model solar language to incorporate into general plans. The hyperlink below displays a strategic plan that identifies goals, objectives and actions related to renewable energy and energy efficiency across various sectors within the community.

This is a compilation of solar ordinances from the following cities: Kent, Maryland and Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The DOE Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium's Model Specification for Networked Outdoor Lighting Control Systems is a tool designed to help cities, utilities, and other local agencies accelerate their adoption of systems that can further reduce the energy and maintenance costs of operating their streetlights. While the capabilities of monitoring and control systems on the market are enticing, many of these raise questions for users who are uncertain about how (or even if) they should be implemented, and how their true value can be assessed. As a result, user interests currently vary widely and are likely to do so for the foreseeable future, until adaptive lighting best practices and the ability to forecast energy and maintenance savings (along with the value of other features) becomes more universally proven.

This model state law supports solar rights by barring local restrictions on solar energy systems by HOAs, cities, counties, municipalities or other public agencies. Additionally, it address aesthetics and building department reviews related to health and safety.

These model statutes provide examples on how states can minimize local solar zoning and private land use restrictions by local governments. The first hyperlink displays Colorado's HB 081-1270. The second hyperlink displays information about Wisconsin's related statutes.

This document provided by the California Department of Water Resources includes a comprehensive model for water efficient landscaping ordinances. The resource may be useful in helping water agencies draft their own ordinances, as it includes detailed information regarding purpose, definitions, provisions for new, rehabilitated, and existing landscapes, as well as data on effective precipitations and reference evapotranspiration table for California jurisdictions.

Zoning bylaws that require new homes to be built on lots of one acre or more with the intent of controlling sprawling development actually encourage poorly designed subdivisions that consume and fragment large tracts of land. Although the lots may be large, the wildlife habitat and other environmental, recreational and aesthetic elements that open space provides are usually subsumed by lawns, driveways and other paved surfaces that contribute to environmental degradation and diminish community character. In contrast, open space residential development sets aside open space based on resource values, not by formula, minimizing the environmental impact of developments. This model site plan bylaw can be adapted for use by planning departments.