O2492City Council Meeting: August 25, 2015 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 /9?_ -(CCS)
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
SETTING FORTH PROCEDURESFOR EXPEDITING PERMITTING PROCESSING
FOR CERTAIN SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
WHEREAS, the State of California and the City of Santa Monica has consistently
promoted and encouraged the use of solar energy systems; and
WHEREAS, the State of California recent adopted Assembly Bill 2188, which
requires local agencies to adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited and
streamlined permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems; and
WHEREAS, creation of an expedited, streamlined permitting process for small
residential rooftop solar energy systems would facilitate timely and cost-effective
installation of solar energy systems and help reduce the City's reliance on
environmentally damaging fossil fuels.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. TITLE, WORDS AND PHRASES
This Ordinance shall be known as the City of Santa Monica Solar Energy System
Permit Expediting Ordinance. The terms, phrases, and words used in this Ordinance
shall be construed in compliance with the definitions set forth by California Government
Code Section 65850.5 and California Civil Code Section 714.
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SECTION 2, Section 8.08.220 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code is hereby
added to read as follows:
8.08.220 Expedited Solar System Permitting
Solar Energy Systems which qualify for expedited permit processing, pursuant to
Government Code Section 65850.5, shall be subject to the administrative permitting
procedures set forth in the City's Solar Energy System Permit Expediting Ordinance.
SECTION 3. EXPEDITED REVIEW PROCESS
Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.5, the Building Official shall
implement an expedited administrative permit review process for small rooftop solar
energy systems, and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which small rooftop solar
energy systems shall comply with in order to be eligible for expedited review. The
expedited administrative permit review process and checklist shall substantially conform
to the recommended process and checklist. prescribed by the California Solar Permitting
Guidebook as adopted by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research. The City's
adopted checklist shall be published on the City's website.
SECTION 4. ELECTRONIC SUBMITTALS
Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.5, the Building Official shall
allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this Ordinance and
associated supporting documentations. In accepting such permit applications, the
Building Official shall also accept electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and
other documentation in lieu of a wet signature by any applicant.
SECTION 5. ASSOCIATION APPROVAL
Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.5, the Building Official shall not
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condition the approval for any solar energy system permit on the approval of such a
system by an association, as that term is defined by Civil Code Section 4080.
SECTION 6. PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESSING
A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the City's
adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. Upon
confirmation by the Building Official that the permit application and supporting
documents meets the requirements of the City adopted checklist, and is consistent with
all applicable laws, the Building Official shall, consistent with Government Code Section
65850.5, approve the application and issue all necessary permits. Such approval does
not authorize an applicant to connect the small residential rooftop energy system to the
ocal utility provider's electricity grid. The applicant is responsible for obtaining such
approval or permission from the local utility provider. if the Building Official determines
that the permit application is incomplete, he or she shall issue a written correction notice
to the applicant, detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional
information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.
SECTION 7. INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
The Building Official shall require only one inspection for small residential rooftop
solar energy systems eligible for expedited review as provided by this Ordinance. Such
inspection shall be performed in a timely manner. If the small rooftop solar energy
system fails the single inspection, subsequent inspections shall be authorized.
SECTION 8. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or appendices
thereto, inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such
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inconsistencies and no further, are hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary
to effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 9. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any
court of any competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would
have passed this Ordinance, and each and every Section, subsection, sentence,
clause, or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any
portion of the Ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 10. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage
of this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance, or a summary thereof to
be published once in the official newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This
Ordinance shall become effective on September 30, 2015.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
MARS A JON
City At oFney
Ell
Approved and adopted this 25th day of August, 2015.
Kevin McKeown, Mayor
State of California }
County of Los Angeles ) ss.
City of Santa Monica }
I, Sarah P. Gorman, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby certify that
the foregoing Ordinance No. 2492 (CCS) had its introduction on July 28, 2015,
and was adopted at the Santa Monica City Council meeting held on August 25,
2015, by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers: Himmelrich, O'Connor, O'Day,
Mayor McKeown, Mayor Pro Tem Vazquez
Noes: Councilmembers: None
Absent: Councilmembers: Davis, Winterer
A summary of Ordinance No. 2492 (CCS) was duly published pursuant to
California Government Code Section 40806.
ATTEST:
f
Sarah P. Gorman, City Clerk