Solar PV Residential Requirements for
Streamlined Review
Planning and Development
Building & Safety Division
Issue Date: September 30, 2015
Revision Date: October 26, 2015
The City of Berkeley encourages the installation of solar energy systems by offering low permit
fees and timely permit review and inspection services. Small solar photovoltaic (PV) systems (10
kW AC or less) on rooftops of single family or duplex homes are eligible for a streamlined
permitting process through Ordinance No. 7,415-N.S. which added Chapter 19.14 to the
Berkeley Municipal Code, in compliance with California Government Code Section 65850.5
(California Assembly Bill 2188).
This streamlined permitting process allows for the use of standard electrical plans and
structural engineering criteria. Permits are processed in 1-3 business days if submitted
electronically, or over-the-counter or within 1 business day if brought into the Permit Service
Center (appointments, made by calling 510-981-7502, are strongly recommended). One
consolidated inspection will be performed when installation is complete.
Eligibility
Review the Eligibility Checklist to determine whether the project qualifies for streamlined solar
PV permitting. If the project is eligible, follow the steps below. If not, use the general Solar
Photovoltaic (PV) System Submittal Requirements and submit the application in person at the
Permit Service Center.
Submittal Requirements
All plans submitted for solar PV systems must comply with, and reference, the 2013 California
Building Standards Code that became effective on January 1, 2014, including the 2013 California
Residential Code (CRC) and 2013 California Electric Code (CEC), as appropriate.
NOTE: Effective January 1, 2015, Berkeley homes in Hillside Fire Zones 2 and 3 must have Class
A solar PV systems (photovoltaic panels with the rack support system) in compliance with the
California State Fire Marshal’s Information Bulletin 14-011 and submit certificates indicating
compliance.
If submitted in person at the Permit Service Center, three (3) sets of plans (minimum size
11”x17”) are needed. Whether submitted in person or electronically, plans must be drawn to
scale (or at the very minimum are fully dimensioned), readable, and legible. Plans must include
the following (elements can be combined if clarity is maintained):
Planning a safe and sustainable future for Berkeley
2120 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704-1113
TEL: 510.981.7440 FAX: 510.981.7450
E-mail: Buildingandsafety@CityofBerkeley.info
1. Eligibility Checklist Complete and submit to verify eligibility.
2. Cover Sheet showing the following information: (a) project address; (b) owner’s name,
address, and phone number; (c) name, address, and phone number of the person preparing
the plans; (d) scope of work statement; (e) number of stories and number of dwelling units;
(f) sheet index indicating each sheet title and number; (g) legend for symbols, abbreviations,
and notations used in the drawings.
3. Schematic Site Plan showing building footprint with locations of property lines, distances of
building walls to property lines, location of the solar PV systems, location of the main
service and the exterior and interior locations of all equipment and disconnects with
working space clearances, and locations of other structures (if any) on the property. For
multi-story buildings, indicate the roofline at each floor level on the site plan.
4. Electrical Permit Application
5. Standard Electrical Plan Submit the standard plan that applies to the project:
 Solar PV Standard Plan – Central/String Inverter Systems for One- and Two-Family
Dwellings
 Solar PV Standard Plan – Microinverter and ACM Systems for One- and Two-Family
Dwellings
6. 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; see
attached diagram for examples.
7. Structural Checklist/Criteria Complete and submit the Structural Criteria for Residential
Flush-Mounted Solar Arrays
8. Manufacturer’s Specification Sheets with make, model, listing, size, and weight for all
components including, but not limited to, inverters, panels, racks, and combiner boxes.
Grounding method used must comply with installation manual requirements. If submitting
electronically, include a hyperlink to the manufacturer’s specification sheets within the
body of the e-mail rather than including the sheets as attachments.
Planning a safe and sustainable future for Berkeley
2120 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704-1113
TEL: 510.981.7440 FAX: 510.981.7450
E-mail: Buildingandsafety@CityofBerkeley.info
Submittal Options
1. Electronic Submittal City of Berkeley’s Building and Safety Department will soon be
using new permitting system software that integrates online permitting. Until that time,
the City of Berkeley will accept applications for small residential rooftop solar PV
permits that qualify for streamlined review by e-mail. Permits submitted by e-mail will
be reviewed and issued in 1-3 days. The City of Berkeley will call to coordinate any
necessary payment before permit issuance; any remaining balance can be paid in person
at the time of permit pick-up.
In order to avoid delays, follow these instructions carefully:
a. Use a single e-mail for each property (e.g. do not combine different properties or
split a single property into more than one e-mail).
b. Use “Solar PV Permit for [project street address]” as the Subject Line
c. Attach the required submittals (see above). Please note that hyperlinks to
manufacturer’s specification sheets are acceptable for electronic submissions.
d. The total size of the e-mail and all attachments must be 25 MB or less. Avoid the
use of photographs and use compression software that maintains clarity if
necessary. If this total attachment size cannot be achieved, you may write to the
address below for directions on using the City of Berkeley’s File Transfer Protocol
(FTP) site or submit in person.
e. Submit the permit application to solar@cityofberkeley.info.
2. In Person Call 510-981-7502 to make an appointment to submit an application at the
Permit Service Center. Small residential rooftop solar PV permits are processed overthe-counter or within 1 business day.
Inspection
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 for the solar system. Detail on
scheduling inspections is available here. Inspection requests received within business hours, by
phone at (510) 981-7444 or by website request, are typically scheduled for the next business
day.
Planning a safe and sustainable future for Berkeley
2120 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704-1113
TEL: 510.981.7440 FAX: 510.981.7450
E-mail: Buildingandsafety@CityofBerkeley.info
Planning a safe and sustainable future for Berkeley.
2120 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704-1113
Tel: 510.981.7440
E-mail: buildingandsafety@cityofberkeley.info
FAX: 510.981.7450