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Community Partnership
Zoning & Codes |
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Community Partnership
Zoning & Codes |
Every Community is DifferentBefore installing a solar energy system, you or your qualified solar service provider must investigate local building codes, zoning ordinances, and community association covenants pertaining to the site. You must comply with existing building permit procedures or homeowner's association rules to build your system.BRINGING SOLAR ENERGY TO THE PLANNED COMMUNITY - A newly-released handbook, prepared for the Department of Energy's Million Solar Roofs Initiative documents the growing problem of private land use restrictions to residential solar development, and offers homeowners practical advice for obtaining requisite community approvals for their system. Co-authors Fred Zalcman, Thomas Starrs, and Les Nelson describe how architectural controls (CC&Rs) have proven to be a major barrier to solar energy development within the growing number of the countries’ planned communities. The handbook draws on interviews with system installers and integrators across the country, legal experts and others to suggest a range of negotiating strategies and legal options. Resource materials are also included. The handbook was developed after a series of regional workshops, including one in Philadelphia on May 19, 2000 hosted by the Philadelphia Solar Partnership. The workshops and handbook are designed to help solar advocates prepare for overcoming restrictive covenants of homeowners associations. For more info see http://www.law.pace.edu/env/energy/ Building code compliance for a solar system installation is a local issue. Call your local building code official to determine how to comply with your municipal building code. Some jurisdictions may require permits to be secured by licensed contractors for certain types of systems. Grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) systems should be interconnected by a licensed electrician in compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC) using equipment listed with Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Standards for safe interconnection of PV systems with local electric utilities have been developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). See Interconnection Overview The Philadelphia Million Solar Roofs Community
Partnership is working to help citizens reduce overly restrictive codes
and covenants. To view or post recent information regarding
zoning and code issues for solar applications, see
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