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A Municipal Guidebook for Solar Zoning and Permitting ...

A Municipal Guidebook for Solar Zoning and Permitting Zoning and Permitting Solar in Your Municipality Solar Zoning and Permitting Guide i Western Pennsylvania Rooftop Solar Challenge Solar Installation Guidebook Prepared for Citizens for Pennsylvania s Future (PennFuture) City of Pittsburgh Allegheny county Southwestern Pennsylvania commission CONNECT (Congress of Neighboring Communities) SUNWPA ( Solar Unified Network of Western Pennsylvania) Prepared by Environmental planning & Design, LLC December 2012 Solar Zoning and Permitting Guide ii Acknowledgment: This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy under Award Number DE-EE0005683/000, SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge. Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.

Allegheny County Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission ... Environmental Planning & Design, LLC December 2012 . Solar Zoning and Permitting Guide ii Acknowledgment: “This material is based upon work supported by the ... County and two municipalities in Beaver County. The following municipalities

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Transcription of A Municipal Guidebook for Solar Zoning and Permitting ...

1 A Municipal Guidebook for Solar Zoning and Permitting Zoning and Permitting Solar in Your Municipality Solar Zoning and Permitting Guide i Western Pennsylvania Rooftop Solar Challenge Solar Installation Guidebook Prepared for Citizens for Pennsylvania s Future (PennFuture) City of Pittsburgh Allegheny county Southwestern Pennsylvania commission CONNECT (Congress of Neighboring Communities) SUNWPA ( Solar Unified Network of Western Pennsylvania) Prepared by Environmental planning & Design, LLC December 2012 Solar Zoning and Permitting Guide ii Acknowledgment: This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy under Award Number DE-EE0005683/000, SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge. Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.

2 Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Solar Zoning and Permitting Guide iii Acknowledgements This project was the collaborative effort of many individuals, Municipal officials and organizations. We would like to thank the following individuals who dedicated their time and expertise to assist with this project. Their contributions have ensured that these model ordinances and Permitting practices have been reviewed through a diverse set of lenses taking into account Municipal , legal, engineering, building and electrical code, planning , community and Solar industry interests.

3 Members of our technical advisory committee: Paul Lauer, Kay Pierce, Gordon Israelson, Darrell Rapp, Kevin Flannery, Corey Layman, Brian Temple, Kevin Brett, Ryan Falcone, Joe Morinville, Joe Fucci, Kristin Sullivan. Stakeholder interviews: Alvin Henderson, Jr., Kay Pierce, Frank Mancini, Jr., Susan Tomazko, Corey Layman, George Totalis, Sherwood Johnson, Joe Ison, Mark Goodman, Joe Morinville, Karen Foltz, Phil Long, Francis Deleonibus, Steven Lane. Staff from the participating SunShot communities: Ed Warchal, John Barrett, George Zboyovsky, Ralph Costa, Stephen Beuter, Tom Plietz, Bob Caun, Jeffrey Naftal, Mary Ellen Ramage, Terry Huston, Steven Morus, Cindy Simm, Mark Sampogna, Dave Montz, Tricia Levander, Diane Kemp, Mario Leone, Mark Ciufo, Paul Hugus, Andy McWhinney, Rochelle Ogun, Chuck Knaus, Chuck Steinert, Kate Rakus, Jim Sloss, Jason Kambitsis, Andrew Dash, Jeff Walzer, Denise Fitzgerald, Randy Lubin, Bob Fischer, Kevin Creagh, Bob Vita, Jan Barbus, Marie Incorvati, Bill Savatt, Scott Brilhart, Butch Anthony, Brian Kamauf and Sean Gramz.

4 Our knowledgeable consultants - Andrew Schwartz, Jon Stilan, Jennifer Cristobal, Shari Shapiro, Chuck Means and Bill Brooks. Staff from the partnering organizations Jay Rickabaugh, Kathy Risko, Jeaneen Zappa, Zachary Ambrose , Laura Mundell, Jamie Colecchi, Jim Sloss, Hal Saville, Ian Smith, Fred Underwood, Mike Carnahan, Sheila Conry, Daniel Camacho, Adam Rossi, Karen Foltz, Rich Foltz, Eric Casteel, Evan Endres, Jim Price, Sharon Pillar, Heather Sage, Christina Simeone and Courtney Lane. Participating Municipalities: Aspinwall Borough, Baldwin Borough, Brentwood Borough, Carnegie Borough, City of Pittsburgh, Collier Township, Dormont Borough, Etna Borough, Forest Hills Borough, Greentree Borough, McKees Rocks Borough, Midland Borough, Monaca Borough, Monroeville Borough, Mt. Oliver Borough, O Hara Township, Richland Township, Scott Township, Shaler Township, Sharpsburg Borough, Stowe Township, Upper St.

5 Clair Township, West Mifflin Borough, Wilkinsburg Borough. Solar Zoning and Permitting Guide iv TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND .. 1 PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE .. 2 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE .. 3 INTRODUCTION TO Solar POWER .. 4 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS RELATED TO Solar .. 6 INTERCONNECTIONS .. 7 LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS .. 8 SECTION B: Zoning .. 11 MODEL Zoning ORDINANCE .. 12 Section 1. Definitions.. 13 Section 2. Purpose.. 15 Section 3. Applicability.. 16 Section 4. Permitted Zoning Districts.. 16 Section 5. Location Within a [Lot/Parcel/Property].. 17 Section 6. Design and Installation Standards.. 17 Section 7. Setback Requirements.. 18 Section 8. Height Restrictions.. 19 Section 9. Screening and Visibility.. 21 Section 10. Impervious [Lot/Parcel/Property] Coverage Restrictions.. 24 Section 11. Non-conformance.. 25 Section 12. Signage and/or Graphic Content.

6 28 Section 13. Performance Requirements.. 28 Section 14. Inspection, Safety and Removal.. 29 Section 15. Permit Requirements.. 29 SECTION C: Permitting .. 30 Permitting OVERVIEW .. 31 Solar PERMIT APPLICATION .. 33 SUGGESTED PERMIT FEES .. 41 Solar Zoning and Permitting Guide v SECTION D: APPENDIX GENERAL INFORMATION Glossary of Terms Helpful Contacts, References and Links PERMIT Solar PV System Components Sample Diagrams Sample Permit Sample Cut Sheets ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Solar Access Solar and Historic Properties Solar Zoning and Permitting Guide: Section A 1 SECTION A: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE INTRODUCTION TO Solar POWER COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS RELATED TO Solar INTERCONNECTIONS LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS Solar Zoning and Permitting Guide: Section A 2 PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE The Western Pennsylvania Rooftop Solar Challenge partners, as part of the United States Department of Energy s (DOE) SunShot Initiative, prepared this Guidebook to facilitate successful, cost-effective small scale Solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in Western Pennsylvania.

7 Solar energy is an increasingly affordable source of clean, renewable power in this region. An abundance of information on small scale Solar PV installations already exists (see the Appendix for additional resources and links). This Guidebook is not intended to duplicate existing resources for information about residential and commercial small scale Solar PV installations (less than 300 kW). Rather, the purpose of this Guidebook is to introduce basic concepts related to small scale Solar PV installations and outline the regulations and Permitting process adopted by municipalities participating in the Western Pennsylvania Rooftop Solar Challenge. Solar Energy Installation of and interest in Solar energy installations has been rapidly growing in the United States. The goal of the DOE, through the SunShot Initiative, was to reduce barriers to the installation of small scale Solar energy installations and to reduce the cost of producing Solar -based energy so that it becomes competitive with fossil fuels.

8 SunShot Initiative The DOE s SunShot Initiative was a collaborative nationwide program with a goal to make Solar energy cost-competitive with fossil fuels by increasing our national competitiveness in the global Solar industry and reducing the non-hardware costs of Solar energy projects. Rooftop Solar Challenge The Rooftop Solar Challenge was one of the SunShot Initiatives. The DOE found that overly burdensome Zoning , Permitting and inspection procedures were significant barriers for the installation of Solar energy. Twenty-two regional teams throughout the country participated in the Rooftop Solar Challenge to reduce these burdens. Often, inappropriate Zoning , fees, and Municipal hearings add excessive costs to Solar installations and can delay installation, postponing the benefits of the system. As part of the SunShot Initiative, the Western Pennsylvania Rooftop Solar Challenge Team developed a model Solar ordinance, best practices for Permitting and inspection and a Guidebook for 23 local municipalities in the region.

9 Solar Zoning and Permitting Guide: Section A 3 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE This Guidebook contains background information, a model Solar Zoning ordinance, model Permitting application and information related to Permitting fees and processes. The appendix contains additional information, a glossary of terms, helpful contact information, and references, and Municipal contact information as well as useful examples of completed Solar permits. For Municipal staff and officials, this Guidebook serves as an overview of the regulations developed for small scale Solar PV systems and the Permitting process used to approve those systems. It outlines the criteria needed to help an applicant with the regulatory and Permitting process. While the recommendations and models contained in the Guidebook were reviewed by attorneys with experience in Municipal law and background in the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, the advice contained herein does not constitute legal advice.

10 Municipalities should have any proposed regulation or permit reviewed by their solicitor. For homeowners, this Guidebook is intended as a starting point. A home or business owner can use it to gain an understanding of each step in the process of receiving approval for and installing a Solar system, understand which steps they can take themselves, and be knowledgeable about where to look for further information or technical assistance. This Guidebook is not a substitute for professional guidance and should not be the sole resource for technical information. A professional installer should be involved as early as possible and the local municipality should be contacted before a design is completed. Regulations for Solar PV installations defer to the provisions in the Zoning district of the proposed PV installation and can vary between jurisdictions. Participating municipalities also have flexibility in the adoption of optional provisions, which can impact the final placement and design of a Solar PV system.