CC Resolution 2015-041RESOLUTION NO. 2015 - 041
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA
QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING SUBMITTAL
REQUIREMENTS BULLETIN AND ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST FOR
EXPEDITED SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC PERMITTING FOR
PURPOSES OF IMPLEMENTING ORDINANCE NO. 527
WHEREAS, on September 21, 2014, the governor signed Assembly Bill 2188 (Stats.
2014, Ch. 521) into law, and;
WHEREAS, Assembly _ Bill 2188 provides that the implementation of consistent
statewide standards to achieve the timely and cost-effective installation of solar energy
systems is a matter of statewide concern, and;
WHEREAS, Section 65850.5 to the California Government Code now provides that,
on or before September 30, 2015, every city, county, or city and county shall adopt an
ordinance that creates an expedited and streamlined permitting process for small
residential rooftop solar energy systems, and;
WHEREAS, to assist in the implementation of Ordinance No. 527, which added
Chapter 8.90 to the La Quinta Municipal Code (Chapter 8.90) relating to standards for
small residential rooftop solar energy systems, the City Council desires to adopt a
checklist and bulletin for purposes of assisting both applicants and staff in furtherance of
the implementation of Chapter 8.90.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council --of the City of La Quinta,
California, as follows:
SECTION 1. "Submittal Requirements Bulletin Solar Photovoltaic Installations 10kW or
Less in One- and Two -Family Dwellings," attached hereto as Exhibit A, is hereby adopted
and shall be utilized in the implementation of Chapter 8.90.
SECTION 2. "Eligibility Checklist for Solar Photovoltaic Permitting for One- and Two -Family
Dwellings," attached hereto as Exhibit B, is hereby adopted and shall be utilized in the
implementation of Chapter 8.90.
SECTION 3. This Resolution shall not become effective until the effective date of
Ordinance No. 527, relating. to standards for small residential rooftop solar energy
systems.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the La Quinta City
Council held on this 15th day of September, 2015, by the following vote:
Resolution No. 2015-041
Solar Checklist
Adopted: September 15, 2015
Page 2
AYES: Council Members Franklin, Osborne, Pena, Radi, Mayor Evans
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
LINDA EVANS, Mayor
City of Lo Quinta, California
ATTEST:
SUSAN MAYSELS, City Cler
City of La Quinta, California
(CITY SEAL)
APPROVED=AS TO FORM:
WILLIAM H. IHRKE, City Attorney
City of La Quinta, California
Resolution No. 2015-041
Solar Checklist
Adopted: September 15, 2015
Page 3
TOOLKIT DOCUMENT #1 EXHIBIT A
Submittal Requirements Bulletin
Solar Photovoltaic Installations 10 kW or Less
in One- and Two -Family Dwellings
f aF Lk1
This information bulletin is published to guide applicants through a streamlined permitting process and
provides information about submittal requirements for plan review, required fees and inspections.
Approval Requirements
A Solar Permit is required from the Community Development Department Building Division for the
installation of a Photovoltaic System with a Maximum Rating of 10kW on One- and Two- Family
Dwelling Construction.
Planning Division review is not required for Photovoltaic System installations of this size.
Fire Department approval is not required for Photovoltaic System installations of this size.
Submittal Requirements
❑ Completed Permit Application Form.
This permit application form can be downloaded at the City Building Division Website.
❑ Compliance with the Eligibility Checklist for Expedited Permitting.
These criteria can be downloaded at the City Building Division Website. This Guidebook recommends
use of a simple checklist to clearly identify eligibility criteria for expedited permitting, where
established.
❑ Completed Standard Electrical Plan.
The standard plan may be used for proposed solar installations 10 kW in size or smaller and can be
downloaded at City Building Division Website. This Guidebook recommends use of a standard plan
that allows permit applicants to simply fill in information regarding a solar system's electrical
configuration.
If standard electrical plans are not provided for use, an electrical plan is required to be submitted
that includes the following information:
• Locations of main service or utility disconnect
• Total number of modules, number of modules per string and the total number of strings
• Make and model of inverter(s) and/or combiner box if used
• One- or Three- line diagram of system
• Specify grounding/bonding, conductor type and size, conduit type and size and number of
conductors in each section of conduit
• If batteries are to be installed, include them in the diagram and show their locations and
venting.
• Equipment cut sheets including inverters, modules, AC and DC disconnects, combiners and
wind generators.
Resolution No. 2015-041
Solar Checklist
Adopted: September 15, 2015
Page 4
• Labeling of equipment as required by CEC, Sections 690 and 705 and CFC.605.11
Site diagram showing the arrangement of panels on the roof or ground, north arrow, lot
dimensions and the distance from property lines to adjacent buildings/structures (existing
and proposed)
❑ A roof plan showing roof layout, PV panels and the following fire safety items:
• Approximate location of roof access point, location of code -compliant access pathways, PV
system fire classification and the locations of all required labels and markings.
Examples of clear path access pathways are available in the State Fire Marshal Solar PV Installation
Guide. http://os fm. fire.ca.gov/pd f/reportslsolarphotovoltakguideline.pd
❑ Completed expedited Structural Criteria along with required documentation.
Structural Criteria can be reviewed at the City Building Division Website.
For non -qualifying systems, provide structural drawings and calculations stamped and signed by a
California -licensed Civil or Structural Engineer, along with the following information.
• The type of roof covering and the number of roof coverings installed
• Type of roof framing, size of members and spacing
• Weight of panels, support locations and method of attachment
• Framing plan and details for any work necessary to strengthen the existing roof structure
• Site -specific structural calculations
• Where an approved racking system is used, provide documentation showing manufacture
of the rack system, maximum allowable weight the system can support, attachment
method to the roof or ground and product evaluation information or structural design for
the rack system
This Guidebook recommends that local jurisdictions adopt a prescriptive approach to establishing
minimal structural requirements that avoids the need for structural calculations. A simple list of
criteria is provided in this Guidebook (Toolkit Document 5). A full explanation of the methods and
calculations used to produce these criteria can be found in the Structural Technical Appendix for
Residential Rooftop Solar Installations, which is available at
http://www.opr.ca.gov/docs/Solar Structural Technical Appendix.pdf.
Plan Submittal and Review
Permit applications can be submitted in person at the City's Permit Center, electronically through
the City's Website or by email. All submittals to the maximum extent feasible will be reviewed by
the end of the following business day.
Permit applications submitted at the City's Permit Center with a scheduled appointment and
utilizing a standard electrical plan may be reviewed and approved at the counter.
Utilization of the City's Website and the eTRAKiT Portal will allow users to interact directly with the
Permit and Inspection software to have live status updates, monitor all applications at one location,
including application approvals and comments, make payments and schedule inspections.
Contractors that participate will be provided a login that will allow them to manage all jobs within the
City from any web -enabled device, allowing them to manage personal accordingly and with ease.
Contacts:
Resolution No. 2015-041
Solar Checklist
Adopted: September 15, 2015
Page 5
Physical Address: 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA 92253
• Website: www.Lo-Quinto.org
• Email: solarpermits@la-quinta.org
Fees
Description
Array, Inverter, Disconnect (First 20 Qty)
Array, Inverter, Disconnect (each additional)
Sub -Panel, Service Upgrade (per/each)
Permit Issuance Fee
Building Standards Fee
Permit Fee Plan Review Fee
$24.17 $24.17
$24.17 $24.17
$24.17 $12.09
$91.85
$1.00 per $25,000.00 Valuation
Typical/Approximate Solar Permit Fee; Including Plan Review Fees: $140.19
Inspections
Once all permits to construct the solar installation have been issued and the system has been
installed, it must be inspected before final approval is granted and the system is released to the
power utility company.
Inspections may be requested by telephone through the Community Development Department
Building Division Inspection Request Line at (760) 777-7153 or electronically through the City's
Website.
Inspections are performed the following business day from the date when they are requested, but
may be performed the same day if requested prior to 6:00 AM. Requests for inspection may not be
requested prior to one (1) day in advance.
Permit holders must be prepared to show conformance with all technical requirements in the field
at the time of inspection. The inspector will verify that the installation is in conformance with
applicable code requirements and with the approved plans, including the following items:
• Number of Photovoltaic modules and associated model numbers match plan
• Array conductors and components are installed in a neat and workman -like manner
• Array(s) is/are properly grounded, and fastened in place per attachment details
• Electrical boxes are accessible and connections are suitable for environment
• Conductor ratings and sizes match plans
• Overcurrent circuit protection devices (OCPDs) are rated and installed per plan
• Equipment ratings and models are consistent with the approved plan
• Appropriate signs are property constructed, installed and displayed, including PV power
source system attributes identification, and identification of AC point of connection,
alternative power system is onsite, PV circuit conductors and if the system is Ungrounded.
Resolution No. 2015-041
Solar Checklist
Adopted: September 15, 2015
Page 6
Departmental Contact Information
For additional information regarding this permit process, please consult the Community
Development Department Building Division website at www.la-quinta.org or call (760) 777-7125.
Resolution No. 2015-041
Solar Checklist
Adopted: September 15, 2015
Page 7
Eligibility Checklist for Expedited i
Solar Photovoltaic Permitting for
One -'and Two -Family Dwellings
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
A.
System size is 10 kW AC CEC rating or less
❑ Y
❑ N
B.
The solar array is roof -mounted on one- or two-family dwelling or accessory structure
❑ Y
❑ N
C.
The solar panel/module arrays will not exceed the maximum legal building height
❑ Y
❑ N
D.
Solar system is utility interactive and without battery storage
❑ Y
❑ N
E.
Permit application is completed and attached
❑ Y
❑ N
ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS
No more than four photovoltaic module strings are connected to each Maximum PowerPoint
Tracking (MPPT) input where source circuit fusing is included in the inverter ❑ Y ❑ N
1) No more than two strings per MPPT input where source circuit fusing is not included ❑ Y ❑ N
2) Fuses (if needed) are rated to the series fuse rating of the PV module ❑ Y ❑ N
3) No more than one noninverter-integrated DC combiner is utilized per inverter ❑ Y ❑ N
A.
For central inverter systems: No more than two inverters are utilized
❑ Y
❑ N
B.
The PV system is interconnected to a single-phase AC service panel of nominal 120/220
Vac with a bus bar rating of 225 A or less
❑ Y
❑ N
C.
The PV system is connected to the load side of the utility distribution equipment
❑ Y
❑ N
D.
A Solar PV Standard Plan and supporting documentation is completed and attached
❑ Y
❑ N
STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS
A. A completed Structural Criteria and supporting documentation is attached (if required) ❑ Y ❑ N
FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
A. Clear access pathways provided
B. Fire classification solar system is provided
C. All required markings and labels are provided
D. A diagram of the roof layout of all panels, modules, clear access pathways and
approximate locations of electrical disconnecting means and roof access points
is completed and attached
Notes:
1. These criteria are intended for expedited solar permitting process.
2. If any items are checked NO, revise design to fit within Eligibility Checklist, otherwise permit
application may go through standard process.
❑Y ON
❑Y ❑N
❑Y El
❑Y El