City of Santa Cruz, CA

Initial Status: Standard building permit application form in use, but not specific to PV.

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

Initial Status: Permit application form online.

Guidance: City currently at market best practice.

Initial Status: Electronic submittal not currently available.

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

Initial Status: 1 submittal for residential; 1+ submittal(s) for commercial.

Guidance: City currently at best practice for residential. Consider consolidating to a single permit submittal for commercial projects.

Initial Status: Limited process information available online.

Guidance: Post information on the solar permitting and inspection process online in an easily accessible location. This should include the process steps, timelines, fees, point of contact, and any other pertinent information.

Initial Status: 2-3 business days residential, within 5 days commercial; no expedited process currently in place

Guidance: City currently at best practice, but should consider providing an over-the-counter permit approval process for qualifying PV projects using a standard application form (see goal P1).

Initial Status: Flat $156 residential permit fee.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Permit fee is currently structured as open-ended valuation based on project costs.

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. Open-ended valuation based fee structures are inconsistent with State law.

Initial Status: Within 2 business days.

Guidance: City currently at market best practice.

Initial Status: Appointment window 3-4 hours.

Guidance: Provide an appointment window of 2 hours or less if possible. Provide real time updates prior to arrival so contractor is aware and prepared.

Initial Status: Single comprehensive inspection for residential projects.

Guidance: City currently at best practice for residential, but should consider requiring only a single permit inspection for commercial. If additional inspections are required during installation, conduct in a manner that does not require installer to halt work.

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

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: Engineering approval incorporated into design for new constructions.

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: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: State laws provide limited protection for solar rights and solar access, but no 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: City has incentives for new construction to include solar PV systems or solar-ready wiring.

Guidance: City currently at best practice. Consider exploring the creation of municipal ordinances which require new homes and buildings to be built solar-ready.

Initial Status: City has goal to achieve 33% locally generated renewable energy in Climate Action Plan

Guidance: City is currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Zoning code does not specifically address solar.

Guidance: Restrictive covenants must be appropriately minimized in order to maximize local opportunities to harness and benefit from solar energy.

Initial Status: Special review required for historic buildings.

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 for commercial and multi-family. Not available for all residential.

Guidance: City at best practice. Consider exploring residential PACE financing.

Initial Status: Santa Cruz Community Credit Union offers a solar loan program

Guidance: City currently at best practice. Information available at http://www.scccu.org/personal/loans-credit/get-green-loans.html.

Initial Status: GreenFocus website will soon include solar; marketing materials created to help constituents get sol

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

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: Wastewater plant has 50 kW solar PV system; no known solar development at landfill.

Guidance: City currently at best practice. Consider establishing a working group to identify solar feasibility at the municipal Resource Recovery Facility.

Initial Status: No known 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: City has hosted workshops, publicized new codes for solar contractors, and maintains a local preferr

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Solar Santa Cruz Initiative and City's GreenFocus website

Guidance: City currently at best practice.