Local Permits

Permitting

In all Cities and Counties in California, the local government requires permits for residential and commercial solar projects (there are more than 550 local jurisdictions).

The permit is usually obtained by the licensed contractor doing the work or it can be obtained by the site owner. Fees are based on the reasonable cost of providing the permit and inspection services. A local agency is prohibited from charging building permit and similar fees which exceed the estimated reasonable costs of providing the services rendered unless the amounts of the fees are approved by the electorate:

California Government Code 66014
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when a local agency charges fees for zoning variances; zoning changes; use permits; building inspections; building permits; filing and processing applications and petitions filed with the local agency formation commission or conducting preliminary proceedings or proceedings under the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, Division 3 (commencing with Section 56000) of Title 5; the processing of maps under the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act, Division 2 (commencing with Section 66410) of Title 7; or planning services under the authority of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 65100) of Division 1 of Title 7 or under any other authority; those fees may not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee is charged, unless a question regarding the amount of the fee charged in excess of the estimated reasonable cost of providing the services or materials is submitted to, and approved by, a popular vote of two-thirds of those electors voting on the issue.

(b) The fees charged pursuant to subdivision (a) may include the costs reasonably necessary to prepare and revise the plans and policies that a local agency is required to adopt before it can make any necessary findings and determinations.

(c)  Any judicial action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the ordinance, resolution, or motion authorizing the charge of a fee subject to this section shall be brought pursuant to Section 66022.

Permitting fees vary substantially in California. But permitting fees are not the only requirements. Some jurisdictions will require substantial documentation of the existing building structure while others will require an engineer to verify that the structure of the building will support the solar project. (In general, the total weight of a solar system is no more than 5 pounds per square foot, below the assumed 20 pound per square foot added weight rule of thumb – this varies by construction type so please consult the local solar company).

CALIFORNIA BUILDING DEPARTMENTS GRADED ON THEIR ‘SOLAR SAVVY’
Solar contractors, who are members of the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA), evaluated 67 city and county building departments based on experience in 2010 obtaining permits. Most solar companies responding to CALSEIA’s survey install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on residential and commercial rooftops.   They issued “excellent” to “awful” grades, based on local building departments’ familiarity with solar technology and applicable codes.

The following local jurisdictions received ‘excellent’ evaluations from CALSEIA member companies: 

• City of Laguna Niguel
• City of Long Beach
• City of Los Angeles (for residential PV systems only)
• City of Mission Viejo
• City of Rancho Palos Verdes
• City of Santa Barbara
• City of Santa Rosa
• City of Simi Valley
• City of Thousand Oaks
• City of Windsor
• County of Riverside
• County of Santa Barbara
• County of Ventura

The 22 building departments receiving ‘pretty good’ grades were:

• City of Camarillo
• City of Cloverdale
• City of Cypress
• City of Fremont
• City of Goleta
• City of Huntington Park
• City of Menlo Park
• City of Moorpark
• City of Murrieta
• City of Orange
• City of Palos Verdes Estates
• City of Pasadena
• City of Petaluma
• City of Redondo Beach
• City of San Jose
• City of Sebastopol
• City of Vallejo
• County of Napa
• County of Orange
• County of Plumas
• County of San Luis Obispo
• County of Sonoma

Several city and county building departments were deemed average, improvement-needed, or awful by solar companies participating in CALSEIA’s 2010 permitting survey.  “These are preliminary results,” explained Pat Redgate, Chairman of CALSEIA’s Permitting Committee. “Each year, CALSEIA will update this survey, and we hope to see a positive trend.
“As building departments gain experience reviewing plans and field-inspecting solar energy systems,” he continued, “we believe that local authorities will become more efficient and less reluctant to approving alternative-energy systems.”
“We’re not pointing fingers here which is why we are not listing the jurisdictions which received awful or needs improvement ratings,” he emphasized, “It’s a learning curve for both building departments and new solar companies.”  “Solar contractors must do their part to help streamline local permitting by submitting organized and error-free applications and ensuring solar energy systems meet all certification and code requirements.”
Sue Kateley, Executive Director of the CALSEIA notes that “the industry believes that by working together we can help to reduce government administrative costs while at the same time ensuring that systems are installed in a safe manner in compliance with state and local code requirements. Some of the most important things that would help everyone would be posting all solar permitting requirements and fees on line (which many jurisdictions have already done) and providing a window for inspections to reduce waiting times.”

The survey is continuously open to CALSEIA members to provide data on their permitting experiences. As new data is complied, this information will be updated.