City of Richmond, CA

Initial Status: City uses a standard PV application for East Bay area

Guidance: City currently at best practice. Permitting process information is available at http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=2771

Initial Status: Permit application form online

Guidance: City currently at best practice. Permitting process information is available at http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=2771

Initial Status: Application can only be submitted in person

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: 1 submittal

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Permit information is posted online, but not inspection or fee schedule

Guidance: City is at best practice for permitting. Provide clear written instructions on inspection process. Also, provide information on permit fee schedule, along with any rebates and incentives. Ideally, post information on Residential solar permitting page: http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=2771

Initial Status: OTC for plan review and plan check for residential; res: one week and comm.: ~11-15 days

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: Residential permits are a flat fee of >$500, based on cost recovery

Guidance: Permit fee for residential systems is based on cost recovery or a flat fee no more than $500 for systems <15 kW. Larger systems can be $15 for every kilowatt (kW) over 15 kW. Fee cannot be based on open-ended valuation based fee structure. This is an AB 1801 and SB 1222 requirements for all solar permit fees.

Initial Status: Commercial permits are >$1,000, based on cost recovery

Guidance: Permit fee for commercial systems is based on cost recovery or a flat fee no more than $1,000 for systems <50 kW, plus $7 for every kW between 51 kW and 250 kW, plus $5 for every kW over 250 kW. Fee cannot be based on open-ended valuation based fee structure. This is an AB 1801 and SB 1222 requirements for all solar permit fees.

Initial Status: Within 2 business days

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Appointment window between 3 and 4 hours

Guidance: Installer is given specific time or time window less than 2hrs for onsite inspection. Utilize phone and/or email to provide info on anticipated inspection time.This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW.

Initial Status: 1 inspection visit for residential. # of inspections for commercial depends on complexity

Guidance: Only a single, final inspection visit is required for permit and interconnection together. Coordinate inspection among various agencies or schedule multiple agency inspections for the same time. This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW.

Initial Status: No inspection checklist

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: Small qualifying systems exempt

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: City has adopted most recent codes

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: State laws provide limited protection for solar rights and solar access, but no local ordinance

Guidance: Solar rights are protected by state legislation. Consider creating local ordinances that exceed the CA Solar Rights Act and Solar Shade Control Act, which would protect property owners' right to install solar and ensure their property has unobstructed access to direct sunlight.

Initial Status: City does not have solar ready construction ordinance

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

Initial Status: Solar goals in General Plan, Energy and Climate Change element

Guidance: City currently at best practice (Policy EC3.1, Action EC3.A). City is integrating solar priorities in Climate Action Plan.

Initial Status: Historic alterations require review by historic preservation commission

Action Taken: Streamlined review by creating a design standard for similar structures within a neighborhood.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: City has not adopted ordinance yet

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: No implementation of Local PACE financing

Action Taken: City has implemented PACE program

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Green loans offered by Marin Clean Energy CCA

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

Initial Status: Limited knowledge of solar finance options and tools

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: Explored through East Bay Green Corridor

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: Participating in a region-wide collaborative for solar

Guidance: City currently at best practice. More information available at: http://www.solarroadmap.com/regional-initiatives/ba-rrep/

Initial Status: Plans for 15MW solar with feed in tariff from Marin Clean Energy

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: No known solar development at local brownfield sites

Action Taken: RFP issued for 12MW solar development on brownfield site

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: City has publicized workforce development resources online

Guidance: City currently at best practice. Information can be found at: http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=275

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.