Solar panels and EV chargers in Los Angeles

Its solar panels or module arrays do not exceed the maximum legal building height, which includes the height allowances provided by Section 12.21.1 B.3.(c) of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

91.106.5.1. Streamlined Permitting Process for Small Residential Rooftop Solar Energy Systems. A solar energy system, as defined in California Civil Code Section 801.5(a), that satisfies all of the following requirements shall be eligible for streamlined permitting process: 1. It is no larger than 10 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or 30 kilowatts thermal; 2. It conforms to all applicable state and local fire, structural, electrical and other building codes; 3. It meets all applicable safety and performance standards established by the California Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and accredited testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories and, where applicable, rules of the Public Utilities Commission regarding safety and reliability; 4. It is installed on a single or duplex family dwelling; and 5. Its solar panels or module arrays do not exceed the maximum legal building height, which includes the height allowances provided by Section 12.21.1 B.3.(c) of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. The Department shall publish on a publicly accessible internet site all required permitting documentation and a checklist of all requirements with which such solar energy systems must comply to be eligible for streamlined review. The Department shall use the checklist and standard plans contained in the most current version of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook and adopted by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. The Department shall allow online submittal of permit applications and associated documentation, and shall authorize the electronic signature of all forms, applications and other documentation in lieu of a wet signature. A permit application that the Department determines satisfies the information requirements in the checklist shall be deemed complete. Upon confirmation that an application is complete and that the proposed solar energy system complies with all requirements of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, the Department shall approve the application and issue all required permits in a timely manner in substantial conformance with the recommendations of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook. Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the Department shall issue a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for streamlined permit issuance. Except as provided herein, a solar energy system eligible for streamlined review shall be subject to no more than one inspection, which shall be done in a timely manner in substantial conformance with the recommendations of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook and may involve multiple agencies. If the eligible solar energy system fails the inspection, a subsequent inspection may be required. This section does not preclude the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power from conducting separate inspections for the interconnection of a solar energy system to the electricity grid. The Department need not approve an application or issue permits under this section if the Department makes a finding, based on substantial evidence, that the solar energy system could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety. “Specific, adverse impact” means a significant, quantifiable, direct and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified and written public health or safety standards, policies or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete.

The Department shall allow online submittal of permit applications and associated documentation, and shall authorize the electronic signature of all forms, applications and other documentation in lieu of a wet signature.