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C. 27

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	June 16, 2015

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Permit Streamlining and Online Permitting for Residential Rooftop Solar Energy Systems

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 06/16/2015

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor

ABSENT:

Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Jason Crapo, (925) 674-7722

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: June 16, 2015
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

INTRODUCE Ordinance No. 2015-13, establishing an expedited, streamlined permitting process for small residential solar energy systems; WAIVE reading and FIX July 7, 2015 for adoption.

APPROVE, as the County's standard checklist and plan forms for small residential rooftop energy systems, forms that substantially comply with those contained in the California Solar Permitting Guidebook published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, and as may be revised in future editions of the Guidebook (see attached forms).

FISCAL IMPACT:

None

BACKGROUND:

State law requires that all cities and counties in California adopt an ordinance no later than September 30, 2015, describing the city or county's streamlined process for permitting small residential rooftop solar energy systems. The attached ordinance satisfies this requirement.

Residential rooftop solar systems are the single largest category of building permits issued by the County Department of Conservation and Development (DCD). The number of such building permits issued by DCD has increased by over 300% the last few years, and DCD expects to issue building permits for well over 1,000 residential rooftop solar projects in 2015.

As the volume of such projects has increased exponentially, DCD has trained additional staff on how to review and issue building permits for residential rooftop solar projects. DCD maintains prompt turn-around times for issuing such permits, and has developed excellent working relationships with the many solar contractors doing business within the County.

Concurrent with the implementation of this ordinance, DCD is enhancing permitting services to contractors and property owners by extending "epermitting" to residential rooftop solar permits. Effective August 1, 2015, DCD will accept building permit applications for residential rooftop solar systems on the internet, through DCD's epermit center at Epermits.cccounty.us Permit applicants will be able to conduct the entire building permit transaction online, from permit application to payment of fees and permit issuance. DCD expects this will lead to a faster and more convenient permitting process for residential rooftop solar projects.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Without Board approval Contra Costa County would not be in compliance with State requiring the Ordinance.