City of San Rafael, CA

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

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

Initial Status: Building permit application forms are available online, though no PV specific forms are in use.

Guidance: City currently at best practice-- see http://www.cityofsanrafael.org/commdev-building-forms/ If a standard PV application form is adopted per goal [P1], make the form available online in an easily accessible location.

Initial Status: Email and fax submittals for permits.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: 1 submittal.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Permit and inspection process information is available online.

Guidance: City currently at best practice- find process information at http://docs.cityofsanrafael.org/CommDev/building/forms-and-handouts/building-division-guiding-principles.pdf see fee schedule at http://docs.cityofsanrafael.org/CommDev/building/forms-and-handouts/building-division-master-fee-schedule.pdf

Initial Status: Within 3 business days residential, within 15 days commercial; OTC permit review available.

Guidance: City currently at best practice for residential projects. Considering updating policies to issue or deny permit within 5 business days of submittal for commercial projects

Initial Status: Flat permit fee of $400 for residential projects.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Flat permit fee of $1000 for commercial projects.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Inspection turnaround time is less than 2 business days.

Guidance: City currently at best practice-- inspection requests are responded to by the next day.

Initial Status: Single comprehensive inspection.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: No inspection checklist currently utilized.

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: Staff aware of most recent CBC and ICC code cycles.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Solar rights protected at state level, but no existing local ordinances.

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: Green Building Ordinance contains PV-ready wiring requirements for new construction.

Guidance: City currently at best practice- see more information at http://docs.cityofsanrafael.org/CommDev/building/green-building-docs/pv-pre-wiring-guide.pdf

Initial Status: Solar development is addressed in planning documents.

Guidance: City currently at best practice-- 2009 Climate Change Action Plan and the Sustainability Element of San Rafael's General Plan promotes solar as a strategy for increased renewable energy production (SU Goal 4).

Initial Status: Zoning code does not specifically address solar, but existing regulations do not restrict solar.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Zoning code for historic and viewshed areas does not specifically address solar.

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.

Initial Status: PACE financing available in 2014.

Guidance: City at best practice-- PACE financing available for commercial and residential solar through CaliforniaFIRST.

Initial Status: Limited options for local solar loan programs.

Action Taken: Planning to adopt new PACE programs in a few months

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

Initial Status: Limited solar evaluation tools available to home and business owners.

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

Initial Status: Community working group formed for a previous effort.

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: Community has expressed interested in such a program.

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: Jurisdiction is coordinating regional collaborative procurement initiative.

Guidance: City currently at best practice-- find more about San Rafael's efforts with the SEED Fund here: http://www.solarroadmap.com/regional-initiatives/north-bay/

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.

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.