A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to adopt an expedited solar permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems pursuant to Government Code Section 65850.5(g).

B. Applicability. This section applies to the permitting of eligible small residential rooftop solar energy systems in the City.

C. Permitting. Applicants desiring to qualify for the expedited review shall submit an application to the City, in a form approved by the City’s Building Official. The Building Official is authorized to administratively act on such applications, pursuant to this section. Decisions of the Building Official may be appealed to the Planning Commission.

D. Eligibility Checklists. The City shall adopt checklists of all requirements with which small rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review. The checklists, standard plans and expedited process shall substantially conform with the recommendations contained in the most current version of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook and adopted by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. The Building Official is hereby authorized to develop and maintain the eligibility checklists.

E. An application that satisfies the requirements of the eligibility checklists, as determined by the Building Official, shall be deemed complete and eligible for the expedited permitting process. Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the Building Official shall issue a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for the expedited permitting process.

F. Upon confirmation by the Building Official that the application and supporting documentation are complete and that the solar energy system substantially conforms to all applicable local, state, and federal health and safety requirements, the Building Official shall administratively approve the application and issue required permits. Such approval does not authorize an applicant to connect the small residential rooftop energy system to the local utility provider’s electricity grid. The applicant is responsible for obtaining such approval or permission from the local utility provider.

G. For a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review, one consolidated building inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner. If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, re-inspections are required. (Ord. 3373 § 2, 2016).