City of Watsonville, CA

Initial Status: General building permit used for solar PV projects.

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. If a standard PV application form is adopted per goal [P1], make the form available online in an easily accessible location.

Initial Status: City accepts plans through an online digital plan review system.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: 1 submittal.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Permitting process information available online; fee schedule, inspection requirements are not.

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: OTC plan review offered Wednesdays for most projects; standard reviews take 10 days

Guidance: City at best practice for over-the-counter permit approval process for qualifying PV projects. For all projects, issue or deny permit within 3 business days of submittal for residential and within 5 business days for commercial.

Initial Status: Flat fee of $129 for residential projects.

Initial Status: Flat fee of $129 for commercial projects.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Within 2 business days.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Appointment window of 2 hours

Guidance: City 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: 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: Approval from a structural engineer is required for all systems

Guidance: For qualifying residential systems meeting certain criteria, allow an exemption from structural analysis or structural PE stamp requirements.

Initial Status: Currently under 2013 California Building Code, aware of solar-specific updates.

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: State laws protect property owner rights to install solar systems as well as solar access.

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: Watsonville's draft Climate Action Plan includes goals for increased solar development.

Guidance: City currently at best practice. See http://cityofwatsonville.org/permits-plans/climate-action-plan for more information on Watsonville's Climate Action Plan.

Initial Status: 2030 General Plan contains solar design guidelines

Guidance: City currently at best practice.

Initial Status: Over-the-counter review required for residential, minor two-week design review for commercial.

Guidance: City currently at best practice for zoning review. Ensure that the zoning codes and ordinances that govern solar installations in aesthetically sensitive areas do not adversely affect property owners' ability to install solar.

Initial Status: Commercial PACE financing available through CaliforniaFIRST, but not residential

Guidance: City currently at best practice for commercial sector. Recommended exploration of local PACE financing for residential sector.

Initial Status: Santa Cruz Community Credit Union solar loan program available to regional residents

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

Initial Status: Climate action plan includes promotion of solar finance and evaluation 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: 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: Solar plant installed on wastewater treatment facility and feasibility analysis on a landfill and ai

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.

Initial Status: Draft Climate Action Plan encourages increased marketing and publicity for solar education

Guidance: Implementation of Watsonsville's Climate Action Plan will promote resources for the residential, commercial, and municipal solar markets through existing networks.