City of Osakis Ordinance Amendment

City of Osakis
Ordinance Amendment
32.24 Solar energy systems
A. Purpose: Regulations governing solar energy systems are established to provide appropriate locations for solar energy systems, to ensure compatibility with surrounding uses, and to promote the safe and effective use of solar energy to increase opportunities for the generation of renewable energy.
B. Solar Energy Systems Zoning District Allowances:
1. Exemptions:
a. Building-integrated solar energy systems are exempt from the requirements of this section and shall be regulated as any other building element in all zoning districts.
b. Solar collectors and solar energy systems with a cumulative area of eight (8) square feet or less are permitted in all zoning districts. They are exempt from the provisions of this section. Examples of these systems include outdoor accent lighting systems, power supply for traffic control systems, powering a water pump for water gardens, telecommunication systems, backup power systems during power outages, and similar solar energy systems if the system has a cumulative area of eight (8) square feet or less.
c. Roof and wall-mounted solar energy systems following the standards in this Section shall be allowed as a permitted accessory use with a building permit in all zoning districts.
d. Wall-mounted solar energy systems are prohibited on the side of a principal structure facing a public street (not including alleyways).
C. General Requirements:
1. The following standards apply to all solar energy systems in the city.
a. Standards: Solar energy systems shall meet the minimum standards outlined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), ASTM International, British Standards Institution (BSI), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL), the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC), or other standards as determined by the city building official.
b. Certification: Solar energy systems shall be certified by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation, or another body as determined by the Building Official. The City reserves the right to deny a building permit for proposed solar energy systems if deemed to have inadequate certification.
c. Utility Connection: Any grid-connected systems shall have an agreement in compliance with all Minnesota Public Utility Commission (“PUC”) requirements, including all insurance provisions, with the local utility before issuing a permit.
a. Standards: Solar energy systems shall meet the minimum standards outlined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), ASTM International, British Standards Institution (BSI), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL), the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC), or other standards as determined by the city building official.
b. Certification: Solar energy systems shall be certified by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation, or another body as determined by the Building Official. The City reserves the right to deny a building permit for proposed solar energy systems if deemed to have inadequate certification.
c. Utility Connection: Any grid-connected systems shall have an agreement in compliance with all Minnesota Public Utility Commission (“PUC”) requirements, including all insurance provisions, with the local utility before issuing a permit.
2. Roof and Wall Mounted Solar Energy Systems:
a. Shall comply with maximum height requirements in the applicable zoning district.
b. Systems on pitch roofs shall not have a finished pitch steeper than the roof pitch on which it is mounted. The system and its framing shall be ten inches or more above the roof surface.
c. On flat roofs, solar energy systems shall not extend more than 15 feet above the roof surface and may not be pitched at an angle greater than 45 degrees.
d. Shall comply with applicable principal or accessory building setback requirements in the applicable zoning district and shall not extend beyond the exterior perimeter of the building on which the system is mounted.
e. May be flush-mounted or bracket-mounted. Bracket-mounted collectors shall be permitted only when the City building official determines that the underlying roof structure will support apparatus, wind, and snow loads and all applicable building standards are satisfied.
f. Shall be installed following the current Minnesota Building Code regulations.
D. Review Process:
1. In General: In consultation with the zoning administrator, the building official shall review and approve all permits. The City may impose such conditions and require such guarantees deemed reasonable and necessary to protect the public interest and to ensure compliance with the standards and purposes of this zoning ordinance and policies of the comprehensive plan.
2. Submittal Requirements: An application for a solar energy system shall be filed on a form(s) approved by the building official and zoning administrator. In addition, the applicant shall submit the following:
a. Notice to Utility: Written evidence that the proposed site’s electric utility service provider has been informed of the applicant’s intent to install a solar energy system unless the applicant does not plan to connect the system to the electricity grid.
b. Site Plan: A scaled site plan of the project site. In addition to the requirements in this section, the site plan shall indicate the project area boundaries, photovoltaic panel locations, energy storage locations, roads, transformers, power lines, communication lines, interconnection points with transmission lines, and other ancillary facilities or structures.
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