County of Santa Barbara, CA

Initial Status: County has standard PV permit application

Guidance: Standard PV permit application materials include: submittal requirements information, eligibility checklist for expedited permitting, and PV standard plan. Using standard materials across a region reduces submittal errors and department approval backlog. This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW.

Initial Status: Building form available online

Guidance: Application is accessible online. This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW.

Initial Status: Application able to be submitted electronically

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: Single application submittal required

Guidance: Require only a single application submittal. If multiple departments review the application, manage the routing internally.

Initial Status: Permit process description not available online

Guidance: Provide clear written instructions on permitting process along with a checklist of required application materials. Also, provide information on permit fee schedules. Ideally, there is easy access from a primary menu page.

Initial Status: 6-10 days to process a permit/no policy to issue permits within specific business 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: Fee less then $500/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: Cost recovery for commercial systems

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: Inspections preformed within 2 business days

Guidance: Inspection performed next business day after request. If it's not possible, schedule inspection within 5 business days. This is an AB 2188 requirement for all rooftop systems under 10kW.

Initial Status: 3-4 hours window for actual inspection

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: Single comprehensive inspection given

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: Inspection checklist available

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: No qualifying exemptions for systems under 10kW

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: County currently on 2013 ICC codes, some awareness of recent solar updates

Guidance: Permitting department understands latest changes to the 2013 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Energy, and Fire Codes that apply to Solar PV installations.

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: Local ordinance in place

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

Initial Status: Municipal Energy Action Plan and Sustainability Action Plan, Energy and Climate Action Plan, Energy

Guidance: Integrate solar-related goals into long term planning documents such as comprehensive plans, energy action plans, or climate action plans to support a growing market in the community.

Initial Status: Height, setbacks, and coverage requirements are tied to zoning designation

Guidance: Ensure the zoning codes and ordinances that govern solar installations do not adversely affect property owners' ability to install solar. CA Solar Rights Act requires that local governments use an administrative, non-discretionary review process for on-site solar energy systems.

Initial Status: Landmark Advisory Commission or Board reviews appeals

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. CA Solar Rights Act requires that local governments use an administrative, non-discretionary review process for on-site solar energy systems that do not place restrictions on visual or aesthetic concerns.

Initial Status: No covenants restrict solar

Guidance: Private solar covenants are restricted by state legislation. Work with condo owner and homeowners associations to ensure that their covenant, conditions, and restrictions and bylaws do not create undue barriers to solar installations. HOA convenents cannot increase the cost of solar systems by more than $1,000, and cannot decrease the efficiency of systems by more than 10%. HOA must approve or deny plan within 45 days.

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: PACE financing authorized in Santa Barbara, but on hold

Guidance: County currently at best practice, but should lift the PACE hold. PACE program is currently on hold due to concerns over potential challenging from FHFA.

Initial Status: County offers solar loan through emPower program

Guidance: County is currently at best practice. Local residents seeking a solar loan should visit: empowersbc.org/its-easy-get-started/apply-loan

Initial Status: County promotes emPower program with workshops and marketing

Guidance: County currently at best practice.

Initial Status: CEC Solarized program

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: Municipal aggregation has been explored

Initial Status: Solar at Public Works Sanitation District

Guidance: Establish a working group to identify solar feasibility at municipal facilities, including landfill and water treatment sites.

Guidance: Establish a working group to identify brownfield sites and solar development options within the City, following the best practices and case studies provided. Share information with market stakeholders.

Initial Status: 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. Publicize these events, along with external resources/trainings, through various community outreach channels.

Initial Status: emPower Central Coast and community partners share information

Guidance: Help promote the availability of online tools and resources for the residential, commercial, and municipal solar markets through existing networks.

Initial Status: Green business program and emPower Home Energy showcase in effect

Guidance: Establish a working group to explore options for setting clean energy goals for the community, including setting renewable energy development goals in long term planning documents or joining programs designed to encourage, support, and provide recognition for clean energy action.