City of Urbana, IL

Initial Status: There is a standard building permit application form, but nothing specific to PV currently

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

Initial Status: Application materials are available online and via email

Guidance: The City is currently at best practice with easy access to all necessary application materials. If a standard PV application form is adopted per goal [P1], make the form available online in an easily accessible location.

Initial Status: Email submittal is available, and many standard forms can be completed electronically

Guidance: City at best practice

Initial Status: Only a single submittal is necessary

Guidance: Multiple departments review most applications, but routing is handled internally. City at best practice.

Initial Status: A lot of permitting information is available online

Guidance: The City website has a great Permits and Zoning section with all application forms available online in an organized fashion, along with a nice FAQs section and contact information for building officials and inspectors. There is nothing specific to solar currently. If any solar-specific procedures are implemented, consider adding the relevant info to this section of the website in an easily accessible location.

Initial Status: Permit review takes multiple weeks for most projects.

Guidance: Permit review time depends on workload and seasonal factors. Will most projects will have to wait in the queue, consider an expedited or over-the-counter permit approval process for qualifying PV projects using a standard application form (see goal P1).

Initial Status: Fee structure is valuation based with no upper limit

Action Taken: Fee has been reduced to reflect the cost to administer the permit

Initial Status: Fee structure is valuation based with no upper limit

Guidance: Valuation based fee could become cost prohibitive for larger installations. Base commercial permit fees on cost recovery, or if a flat fee is used keep the fee amount under $500.

Initial Status: Inspections completed within 48 hours of request

Guidance: City at best practice

Initial Status: Installer is not required to be on site for inspection

Guidance: City at best practice

Initial Status: Multiple inspections are required

Guidance: Separate inspections are required for electrical rough-in and roof penetrations in addition to final inspections for structural and electrical. For the preliminary inspections, consider conducting in a manner that does not require installer to halt work.

Initial Status: No inspection checklist currently in use

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: Electrical PE required for all submittals; structural PE for commercial systems

Guidance: Most residential systems do not require a structural PE stamp.

Initial Status: City is on 2009 ICC cycle and 2008 NEC

Guidance: Though the City is on an older code version, be aware of and consider accepting new solar standards from most recent code cycles. City building officials seem to be knowledgeable on solar standards. For ongoing education, see the resources available under the Take Action link at right.

Initial Status: State law provides for maximum setback limits based on height of wind or other RE systems

Guidance: State law has established that no municipality or county government may require a renewable energy system used for onsite energy generation to be setback more than 1.1 times the height of the system from the end user's property line. This provides some protection for solar rights but does not provide for solar easements to ensure access to sunlight. However, this does not seem to be a major issue in Urbana currently due to City layout. City is okay in this area for now.

Initial Status: No such ordinances exist currently

Guidance: Explore the creation of municipal ordinances which require new homes and buildings to be built solar-ready. Many of these measures add little to no cost up front and ensure solar can be effectively integrated later on. An alternative approach is to offer permitting incentives for buildings with green building features. See City of Chicago program for an example: http://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/2466

Initial Status: City has energy goals in both the Comprehensive Plan and a Climate Action Plan

Guidance: City is doing a great job planning for renewable energy. The Sustainability Advisory commission is entering phase 2 of the Climate Action Plan. Additionally, objective 33.5 of the Comprehensive plan states "Promote the use of alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar."

Initial Status: The zoning code provides exceptions for solar to make installing RE systems easier

Guidance: City has done a great job making accommodations in the zoning code for PV systems. Section VI-5.B.12 allows for ground mounted solar panels to encroach into required side and rear yard setbacks. Section XIII-5.G.3 exempts solar panels from design guidelines in neighborhood conservation districts.

Initial Status: Solar panels require administrative review in Historic Districts, but are allowed if pass review.

Guidance: Solar panels are exempt from design guidelines in neighborhood conservation districts. Solar panels are also allowed in historic districts subject to administrative review.

Initial Status: State law does not allow HOAs to prohibit solar development

Guidance: No further local action necessary. Illinois law prohibits homeowners' associations, common interest community associations and condominium unit owners' associations from preventing homeowners from installing solar energy systems. These associations may specify the location of the solar energy system, as long as such specifications do not "impair the effective operation" of the system.

Initial Status: Third party finance is allowed in IL, so there should be vendor finance available.

Guidance: Unsure on availability of vendor finance in this region. If limited, encourage local financial institutions to establish loan programs for solar energy systems.

Initial Status: Some awareness within the community currently

Guidance: The City website has a Sustainability in Urbana section with great resources for residents and information on City efforts to become more green. Limited information on solar is currently available though. Consider publicizing info on local solar finance options and solar evaluation tools for potential buyers.

Initial Status: No such programs known to exist currently

Action Taken: A solarize bulk solar purchasing program for residential and commercial PV is in progress

Guidance: Find more information at solarurbanachampaign.com

Initial Status: No such programs known to exist locally

Action Taken: Urbana is currently participating in a multi-city bid offering for solar on public sector facilities

Initial Status: No known installations on municipal property to date

Action Taken: Several municipal facilities have been evaluated and are included in an active multi-city bid (March 2016)

Initial Status: Some sustainability information online

Action Taken: Additional solar content has been added to the City website

Guidance: Find these resources at http://urbanaillinois.us/residents/sustainability/at-home

Initial Status: City purchases RECs through their community choice aggregation electric supply contract.