Under AB 2188, recently signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, cities and counties must adopt ordinances, or amend their current ordinances, to create expedited, streamlined permitting processes for small rooftop solar energy systems. These ordinances must be enacted by Sept. 30, 2015. The new expedited permitting procedures will only apply to residential rooftop solar energy systems that are no larger than 10 kilowatts or 30 kilowatts thermal.

Cities and counties must adopt permitting procedures that conform to the expedited permitting recommendations in the current version of the “California Solar Permitting Guidebook.” In addition, cities and counties must adopt a requirements checklist that small rooftop solar energy systems must comply with to be eligible for expedited review. AB 2188 also requires cities and counties to publish their checklists and other permitting documents on their websites and accept electronic submissions of applications and electronic signatures.

For more information please see BB&K’s Legal Alert on AB 2188.