Solar panel plans are reviewed for compliance with the 2018 International Residential Code and 2017 National Electric Code
Notice to applicant:
It is the applicant / owner’s responsibility to ensure all private rules and regulations of the subdivision are adhered to. Contact your HOA or property management to determine applicable requirements.
Use the "Apply for a Permit" instruction tab and provide the following information:
Cover sheet
- Job title and address
- Name and contact information of person responsible for the design
- Legend for symbols, abbreviations and notations used in the plans
- Define scope of work
Site plan
- Show all property lines
- Existing structures
- Location of proposed solar installations with distances to property lines
Structural
- Show location of panels and identify each grouping on a system layout
- Indicate if panels are rooftop mounted or ground mounted. If roof mounted, a roof plan and framing cross-section shall include the type roof, roof slope, size, spacing, span and direction of existing framing materials
- If structural members are over-spanned, framing details for structural strengthening will be needed including any new framing
- There may be additional requirements for framing needing professional engineering
- Show the connecting system and panel grouping weight, mounting angle and loading area
- Structural loading distribution must be verified from a qualified party and must be capable of supporting the additional loads imposed from the panel system
- Indicate what type of roofing material exists under the panels
- Provide roof drainage methods
- Indicate the type of embedment / mounting bolts and number of bolts per panel. For tile roof covering, show attachment method and flashing at the new penetrations
- Uplift information is required from the panel grouping area in pounds and for maximum wind load
- Identify the pullout strength per connector in pounds and show the required number of connectors
For the structural installation, roof mounted equipment shall have a distribution weight load of not more than 5 lbs/sq. ft. and not to exceed 45 lbs point load per attachment. If these numbers are exceeded, a structural design analysis will be required from a qualifying party for residential applications.
Electrical
- List the KW rating of the installation.
- List the existing service size and bus bar rating and if MCB is de-rated, provide the electrical load calculations for that service
- Show location of all equipment and disconnects; including utility disconnect
- Provide a one line and three line drawing of electrical installation which includes the PV panel layout, PV power source short circuit current rating, conductor size, type, locations and lengths of runs, wiring methods, grounding points, inverter locations, disconnect locations, battery locations, point of connections to the existing electrical system
- Identify method of connection to service: Back-fed breaker or line side tap
- Indicate if the power supply is uninterrupted (UPS) or battery back-up
- Provide electric calculations for PV system, over current protective device, conductor sizing for PV source circuits,temperature de-rating for conductors, voltage drops (if applicable)
- Show any connecting junction boxes and/or combiner boxes intended for the installation
Plumbing
- Provide a solar domestic hot water schematic for the system
- Identify the backflow preventer and type mixing valve (if applicable) for the hot water system
** Wind Design Pressures per Standard ASCE 7-05 (American Society of Civil Engineers)
**IFC 2018 Section 1204.2 – 1204 (Fire Access & Pathways)Section 1204.5 (Rapid Shutdown) 1204.51-1204.5.3. (Label & Type)
Plan review is 10 business days
Prior to issuance of the permit staff will contact you when the fees have been determined:
- Photovoltaic: $54.00
- Water Heater: TBD
- Pool Heating: TBD
- Space Heating: TBD
Permit Issuance
- Permits are issued electronically
- The person responsible for the permit (applicant, contractor or homeowner), must print one full size set of:
- Permit
- Stamped approved construction plans
- Inspection card (white paper is acceptable)
- Supporting documents such as Calculations, Soils Reports, Special Inspector Reports, Energy Reports, etc.
- All of the above listed documents must be on the construction site in paper format and available for the building inspectors
- Failure to provide the approved paper documents on the job site for the inspector may result in a failure of inspections