Brigham City, UT

Initial Status: Standard building permit application, but no solar specific form

Action Taken: Standard permit form for PV is being considered.

Guidance: Consider adopting a standard application form specific to solar PV for qualifying projects under 10kW.

Initial Status: General building permit application form is online, but no solar PV specific forms.

Guidance: City currently at best practice. If standard regional solar permit application form is adopted per goal [P1], make the form available online on the appropriate section on the City website.

Initial Status: Electronic submittal available

Action Taken: Electronic submittal of permit documents is available.

Guidance: City currently at market best practice of allowing permit application submittal via email.

Initial Status: 1 submittal

Action Taken: Single permit application submittal is available for residents and installers.

Guidance: City currently at market best practice of requiring only one submittal.

Initial Status: General fee information is online, permit and inspection process information is not.

Action Taken: Considering addition of PV permit process information to the City website.

Guidance: Information describing the permit process including approval requirements, submittal requirements, fees, inspection information, and point of contact is online and easily accessible.

Initial Status: About 10 days for residential, about 15 days for commercial

Guidance: Consider an expedited or over-the-counter permit approval process for qualifying PV projects using a standard application form (see goal P1). For all projects, issue or deny permit within 3 business days of submittal for residential and within 5 business days for commercial.

Initial Status: Permit fee is valuation based

Guidance: Base residential permit fees on cost recovery, or if a flat fee is used keep the fee amount under $250.

Initial Status: Permit fee is valuation based

Guidance: Base commercial permit fees on cost recovery, or if a flat fee is used keep the fee amount under $500.

Initial Status: Within < 2 business days

Action Taken: Inspection is performed within 48 hours of request.

Guidance: City currently at market best practice - inspection turnaround time is less than 2 days.

Initial Status: Specific appointment made

Action Taken: Specific inspection time is given to the installer.

Guidance: City currently at market best practice - inspection appointment time is available.

Initial Status: 2 inspections, electrical final and structural/building final, depending on system

Guidance: Require only a single permit inspection. If additional inspections are required during installation, conduct in a manner that does not require installer to halt work.

Initial Status: No PV inspection checklist

Guidance: Utilize a standard inspection checklist for PV systems. The checklist serves as a guide for inspectors and installers containing points of emphasis and common issues.

Initial Status: Currently on 2009 ICC building codes, 2008 NEC

Action Taken: Utah will switch over to 2012 codes in July 2013.

Guidance: Be aware of and consider accepting new solar standards from most recent code cycles

Initial Status: No local laws to protect solar rights and access.

Guidance: Create local ordinances which would protect property owners' right to install solar and ensure their property has unobstructed access to direct sunlight.

Initial Status: Solar is not addressed in standards for new construction

Guidance: Include solar development goals in long term planning documents.

Initial Status: Solar is not addressed in zoning ordinances

Action Taken: City is considering the addition of solar standards to zoning and regulation documents.

Guidance: Ensure the zoning codes and ordinances that govern solar installations, such as setbacks, height limits and lot use provisions, do not restrict property owners' ability to install solar.

Initial Status: No ordinances creating a barrier to solar

Action Taken: The City does not have ordinances which create a barrier to solar.

Guidance: City currently at market best practice - no restrictive covenants or ordinances which create barriers for solar projects.

Initial Status: No such programs known to exist locally.

Guidance: Encourage local financial institutions to establish loan programs for solar energy systems.

Initial Status: Limited awareness of and access to these tools currently.

Guidance: Publicize the availability of local solar finance options and solar evaluation tools for potential buyers. This can be done via webinars, marketing materials, or by providing links and information online.

Initial Status: No similar aggregation programs currently exist locally

Guidance: Support the creation of a working group of community leaders and funding providers. This group would evaluate options and determine the most viable approach for aggregating residential solar based on best practices to date.

Initial Status: No similar aggregation programs currently exist locally

Guidance: Establish a working group of businesses and commercial property owners to leverage their solar purchasing power by aggregating facilities for solar evaluation and procurement to reduce energy costs while demonstrating community leadership.

Initial Status: No known solar projects at these sites currently.

Guidance: Establish a working group to identify solar feasibility at municipal landfill and water treatment sites.

Initial Status: No solar industry training program currently

Guidance: Provide online access to training programs and resources for the installer community and potential workforce and organize an outreach and/or training event in order to generate awareness and understanding.

Initial Status: No market outreach and education programs currently

Guidance: Help promote the availability of online tools and resources for the residential, commercial, and municipal solar markets through existing networks.