YOUR NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
DATE
MAYORS NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Dear Mayor _____:
As a resident in [INSERT CITY OR NEIGHBORHOOD], I write to ask you to improve our city’s solar
permitting process. Our city government needs solar permitting practices that help homeowners and business owners
who want to contribute to [INSERT NAME OF CITY]'s supply of renewable solar energy. According to Project
Permit, a national website that grades cities solar permitting processes against best practices, our city falls below
best practices (visit www.projectpermit.org). As mayor I ask you to issue an administrative order that requires
departments in your municipality to improve and streamline solar permitting.
Solar energy benefits all residents of [CITY] by reducing harmful emissions and delivering reliable peak electricity
when our grid needs it most. The permitting process in our city should be streamlined in recognition of the public
benefits solar energy provides our community. Solar energy generates more jobs per Megawatt (MW) than any other
energy technology. By making solar permitting simpler in our city, you will help the rooftop solar market in our city
develop, bringing with it substantial economic development opportunity.
Streamlining the permitting process can also benefit the [CITY] staff by reducing the amount of time that must be
spent answering questions and reviewing each application. As solar grows in popularity the permitting process runs
the risk of overwhelming staff if the permitting process is not made more efficient. The improvements called for by
Project Permit can be done without compromising the safety and quality of the solar installations in [CITY].
A sample administrative order that includes language to ensure that [CITY] adopts Project Permit’s nine best
practices in solar permitting is attached to this letter. I look forward to working with your office to ensure that this
administrative order moves forward.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME & EMAIL AND PHONE CONTACT INFO]
[OTHER NAMES/ORGANIZATIONS & ADDRESSES IF APPROPRIATE]
Project Permit: Best Practices in Residential Solar Permitting
1.
Post Requirements Online: Information on permit fees, application requirements and process should be easily
accessible via the city's website so applicants can review and prepare materials in advance. Municipalities
should provide a submittal checklist of all requirements for rooftop solar PV and solar thermal permitting in a
single online location. Click here for an example of a solar checklist.
2.
Implement an Expedited Permit Process: The majority of small residential PV systems can be processed
quickly if they meet clearly defined review requirements. We recommend adopting an expedited permitting
review process for these systems that enables review over-the-counter or via electronic processing within one
day. The Solar ABC’s Expedited Permit Process for PV Systems provides a good example that can be adopted in
full or used as a starting point. (Note, for larger systems, not covered by the Expedited Permit guidelines,
municipalities should set and adhere to standard permitting requirements to make the process clear and
transparent. The municipality should work to make these standards consistent with neighboring jurisdictions.)
(NOT CURRENTLY GRADED IN PROJECT PERMIT)
3.
Enable Online Permit Submission: Moving to a fully online permitting system can significantly reduce travel
time for installers and workload for municipalities. We recommend adopting a system that enables submittal,
review and approval of PV permits via email or a website within a short period of time.
4.
Fast Turn Around time. Offering a same-day ‘over-the-counter’ permit submission is a best practice. Travel toand-from the building department can be one of the most cost intensive parts of the permitting process for
installers. Obtaining a small PV permit should require no more than one visit to the building department for
properly completed applications. If an over-the-counter option is not feasible, we at least suggest a permit turn
around time of less than three days.
5.
Reasonable Permitting Fees: Using a flat-fee method instead of a value-based method to assess permit fees
streamlines the process and ensures that larger solar energy systems are not arbitrarily penalized. Fees should
fairly reflect the time needed for city staff to review and issue a permit - that's something that remains constant
regardless of system size. A reasonable residential permit fee should be a flat fee of $400 or less if best practices
are followed.
6.
No community specific licenses needed: We recommend accepting NABCEP PV installer and solar thermal
certification, or already existing state licensing requirements, in lieu of community-specific solar business
licenses.
7.
Offers a Narrow Inspection Appointment Window: Offering an exact appointment time, or keeping the
windows for inspection appointments at or below two hours greatly reduces the amount of costly worker time
spent waiting for inspectors to arrive. Inspectors could also call contractors as appointment time grows close to
further save time.
8.
Eliminates Excessive Inspections: We recommend a clearly defined plan review process and only one
inspection for standard rooftop systems on existing homes. Eliminating reviews that do little to validate the safe
and efficient operation of a proposed PV system (i.e. plan checks with aesthetic criteria) removes unnecessary
costs and expedites permit issuance. We support having both qualified installers and inspectors proficient in solar
to ensure safe and compliant installations.
9.
Train Permitting Staff in Solar: Training building department staff to review permits and perform standard fire
department checks reduces time and cost. Cities should make one or half-day workshops available to relevant
staff. Trainings should be available to both building department plan check and review staff as well as for
inspectors. Click here for free online training for code officials, developed by IREC. (NOT CURRENTLY
GRADED IN PROJECT PERMIT)
For more information on solar permitting best practices visit www.projectpermit.org
or email projectpermit@votesolar.org.
DRAFT Administrative Order Number ________
AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER OF MAYOR ______ OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF _________________,
REQUIRING THE STREAMLING AND IMPROVING OF SOLAR PERMITTING AS FOUND IN __________
OF THE ___________ MUNICIPAL CODE.
WHEREAS, solar energy benefits all residents of [MUNICIPALITY] by reducing harmful emissions and
delivering reliable peak electricity when our grid needs it most. The permitting process in our municipality should
be streamlined in recognition of the public benefits solar energy provides our community. Solar energy generates
more jobs per Megawatt (MW) than any other energy technology. By making solar permitting simpler in our
municipality, we will help the rooftop solar market in our municipality develop, bringing with it substantial
economic development opportunities.
WHEREAS, streamlining the permitting process can also benefit the [MUNICIPALITY] staff by reducing the
amount of time that must be spent answering questions and reviewing each application. As solar grows in popularity
the permitting process runs the risk of overwhelming Municipality staff if it cannot be made more efficient. The
improvements required in this administrative order can be implemented without compromising the safety and
quality of the solar installations in [MUNICIPALITY].
SECTION 1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this administrative order is to promote the deployment of clean, local
renewable energy in our municipality by removing unnecessary barriers to installing small-scale residential solar
energy systems. This administrative order directs the building department, and other agencies with solar permitting
authority to streamline the solar permitting process by updating provisions of _____________ of the Municipality of
____________ Municipal Code related to residential photovoltaic and solar thermal system permit fees.
SECTION 2. Post Requirements Online: Information on permit fees, application requirements and process should
be easily accessible on a municipality website so applicants can review and prepare materials in advance. Our
municipality shall provide a submittal checklist of all requirements for rooftop solar PV and solar thermal permitting
in a single online location.
SECTION 3. Implement an Expedited Permitting Process for Standard Residential Systems: Our municipality
shall adopt an expedited permitting review process for residential solar systems that enables review over-the-counter
or via electronic processing within one day. The Solar ABC’s Expedited Permit Process for PV Systems provides a
good example that can be adopted in full or used as a starting point. Note, for larger systems, not covered by the
Expedited Permit guidelines, our permitting authority shall set and adhere to standard permitting requirements to
make the process clear and transparent. Our permitting authority shall work to make these standards consistent with
neighboring jurisdictions.
SECTION 4. Enable Online Permit Submission: Our municipality shall adopt a system that enables submittal,
review and approval of residential solar system permits via email or a website.
SECTION 5. Implement a Fast Turn Around Time for Solar Permits: Our municipality shall offer a same-day
‘over-the-counter’ permit submission option. Travel to-and-from the building department can be one of the most
cost intensive parts of the permitting process for installers. Obtaining a PV permit should require no more than one
visit to the building department for properly completed applications. If an over-the-counter option is not feasible,
our municipality should work towards turning around a permit in less than three days.
SECTION 6. Reasonable Permitting Fees: Our municipality shall adopt a flat-fee solar permit of $400 or less for
residential solar systems.
SECTION 7. No community specific licenses needed: Our municipality shall accept NABCEP PV installer and
solar thermal certification, or already existing state licensing requirements, in lieu of community-specific solar
licenses.
SECTION 8. Narrow Inspection Appointment Window: Our municipality shall endeavor to make the average
windows given for inspection appointments to two hours or less. Inspectors should be encouraged to call contractors
as appointment time grows close to further save time.
SECTION 9. Remove Excessive Reviews and Inspections: Our municipality shall eliminate reviews that do little
to validate the safe and efficient operation of a proposed PV system. Only one initial inspection shall be required for
standard rooftop systems on existing homes.
SECTION 10. Train Permitting Staff in Solar: Our municipality shall train building department staff to review
residential solar permits and perform standard fire department checks, as a way to reduce time and cost. Our
municipality shall make one or half-day workshops available to relevant staff. Trainings shall be available to both
building department plan check and review staff as well as for inspectors.
EFFECTIVE DATE AND NOTICE. This order shall take effect sixty (60) days after its adoption. Within fifteen
(15) days of its adoption, this administrative order shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general
circulation published and circulated in the Municipality of _____________.