City of Avondale, AZ

Initial Status: No solar-specific permit application form.

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

Guidance: City currently at best practice - permit application is available online. If a standard PV application form is adopted per goal [P1], make the form available online in an easily accessible location.

Initial Status: Apllication submittals are accepted in-person or through the mail

Guidance: Allow email submittal of permit application forms for qualifying projects.

Initial Status: 1 submittal

Guidance: City currently at best practice - single permit application submittal.

Initial Status: Comprehensive process information available online, including fee schedules.

Guidance: City currently at best practice- permit and inspection process information available online.

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: Residential permit fee is based on project valuation.

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

Initial Status: Commercial permit fee is based on project valuation.

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.

Guidance: City currently at best practice- inspection is performed within 2 business days of request. .

Initial Status: Inspection appointment occurs within 2 hours of requested time.

Guidance: City currently at best practice - inspection appointment window of 2 hours.

Initial Status: 1 permit inspection

Guidance: City currently at market best practice - single inspection visit.

Initial Status: Inspection checklist for solar PV systems is available online.

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: Approval from structural engineer required for residential systems.

Guidance: For qualifying residential systems meeting certain criteria, allow an exemption from structural analysis or structural PE stamp requirements.

Initial Status: Current knowledge level of staff regarding recent solar standards unknown

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

Initial Status: No local ordinances which protect solar rights and access

Guidance: Create local ordinances which protect solar access by ensuring property remains shade-free and establishing a process for creating, registering, and enforcing solar easements.

Initial Status: Solar-ready construction recommendations for new construction

Guidance: Consider creation of municipal ordinances which require new homes and buildings to be built solar-ready.

Initial Status: Energy Element of General Plan 2030 advocates for increased solar development.

Guidance: City at best practice. Continue to strengthen commitment to solar development by incorporating it into future planning documents.

Initial Status: No solar friendly zoning ordinances at the local level.

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: Third-party solar financing is limited to certain sectors.

Guidance: Support efforts to ensure state-level utility regulations do not restrict these finance mechanisms.

Initial Status: No state-level PACE financing program

Guidance: Support efforts to develop state-level legislation enabling local PACE programs.

Initial Status: No solar finance and evaluation resources provided on City's website.

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 such programs known to 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 such programs known to 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 installations at Charles M. Wolf Water Resource Center or local landfill.

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

Initial Status: No solar development at local brownfield sites

Guidance: Establish a working group to identify Brownfield sites and solar development options across the state, following the best practices and case studies provided. Share information with market stakeholders.

Initial Status: No solar workforce development resources on City website.

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: Limited solar educational resouces on City website

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