City of Menlo Park, CA

Initial Status: No solar specific PV permit application in use.

Guidance: Standard PV permit application materials include: submittal requirements information, eligibility checklist for expedited permitting, and PV standard plan. Using standard materials across a region reduces submittal errors and department approval backlog. This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW.

Initial Status: Permit application form online

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Electronic submittal not currently available.

Guidance: Application submittals, fee payment, signatures, and permit issuances can be completed through internet, email, or fax. This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW.

Initial Status: Single permit application submittal is available for residents and installers.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Permit and inspection process information available online.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Within 5 days for residential projects and 10 days for commercial projects. No expedited process.

Guidance: Plan review and permit is issued over-the-counter or automatically online for eligible projects, if possible. Otherwise, instate a policy to review and issue/deny permit within 3 days (residential) or 5 days (commercial) of submittal. This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW.

Initial Status: No permit fee required.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: No permit fee required.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Within 2 business days; can schedule inspection 24 hours ahead.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: One hour appointment window is available.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Single comprehensive inspection.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: A standard inspection checklist for PV systems is not currently used.

Guidance: Use a standard checklist for PV field inspections that is available to applicants prior to inspection. This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW.

Initial Status: Approval from structural engineer required for residential and commercial systems.

Guidance: Allow an exemption from structural analysis or structural PE stamp requirements for residential systems that meet certain structural criteria. This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW.

Initial Status: Currently on 2010 IBC.

Guidance: Permitting department understands latest changes to the 2013 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Energy, and Fire Codes that apply to Solar PV installations.

Initial Status: State laws provide limited protection for solar rights and solar access

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Local ordinance protects solar access

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: No local solar ready ordinances or building codes.

Guidance: Explore creation of municipal ordinances which require new homes and buildings to be built solar-ready. Sample standards include a solar zone on roof, pre-installed conduits, space for inverter, spare breaker space in electrical panel for solar interconnection.

Initial Status: Solar development addressed in 2009 Climate Action Plan

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: No local zoning standards for solar installations.

Guidance: Ensure the zoning codes and ordinances that govern solar installations do not adversely affect property owners' ability to install solar. CA Solar Rights Act requires that local governments use an administrative, non-discretionary review process for on-site solar energy systems.

Initial Status: No local zoning standards for solar installations on historic or viewshed areas.

Guidance: Ensure the zoning codes and ordinances that govern solar installations in aesthetically sensitive areas do not adversely affect property owners' ability to install solar. Allow staff members to review and approve applications when possible rather than requiring committee or planning commission review. CA Solar Rights Act requires that local governments use an administrative, non-discretionary review process for on-site solar energy systems that do not place restrictions on visual or aesthetic concerns.

Guidance: Private solar covenants are restricted by state legislation. Work with condo owner and homeowners associations to ensure that their covenant, conditions, and restrictions and bylaws do not create undue barriers to solar installations. HOA convenents cannot increase the cost of solar systems by more than $1,000, and cannot decrease the efficiency of systems by more than 10%. HOA must approve or deny plan within 45 days.

Guidance: California Assembly Bill 2188 requires all local governments to adopt an administrative ordinance that creates a streamlined permitting process for rooftop solar systems <10kW that aligns with the best practices in the California Permitting Guidebook by September 30, 2015.

Initial Status: Menlo Park is in the process of implementing a local PACE program.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Limited solar financing options available from local financial institutions.

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

Initial Status: Minimal awareness of solar finance options and solar evaluation tools available to home and business

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

Action Taken: City is part of an aggregation program for the commercial sector.

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: Not participating in any programs currently.

Action Taken: City is in the process of installing solar at multiple municipal facilities.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Limited awareness of these resources locally

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. Publicize these events, along with external resources/trainings, through various community outreach channels.

Initial Status: Limited awareness of these resources locally

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