[Added 12-21-2011 by L.L. No. 29-2011]
It is the intention of the Town Board, as part of its goal to limit America's dependence on imported sources of fossil energy, cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the cost of energy for our residents, to enact a solar energy system fast-track permit process modeled on the guideline recommendations of the Long Island Unified Solar Permitting Initiative composed of Suffolk County Planning Commission, Nassau County Planning Commission and the Long Island Power Authority, whereby the installation of standard solar energy systems can be standardized, simplified and accelerated in towns and villages across Long Island.
[Amended 8-13-2013 by L.L. No. 16-2013]
All building permit applications for the installations of solar energy panels on residential property shall be expedited by the Building Inspector, and the permit application fee for said installation shall be $25. Applications for standard installations on residential structures on residential property shall be determined within 14 business days of the filing of a completed application.
[Amended 8-13-2013 by L.L. No. 16-2013]
All building permit application fees for standard installations of solar energy panels on residential structures on residential property shall be $25, provided the installation has not been commenced before a permit has been applied for or issued. In cases where installation has been commenced, the application fee shall be three times the required amount.
A. 
For the purpose of this article, the term "standard installation" shall mean those installations which meet the following criteria and any subsequent amendment thereto:
(1) 
Not be subject to architectural review or review by the Babylon Historic Preservation Commission;
(2) 
Installation on a residential structure with a single layer of roof covering;
(3) 
Be flush-mounted parallel to the roof surface and no more than six inches above the surface;
(4) 
Have an eighteen-inch clearing at the roof ridge and an eighteen-inch clearing path to the ridge;
(5) 
Create a gravity roof load of no more than five pounds per square foot for photovoltaic (PV) and six pounds per square foot for residential solar hot water (RSHW);
(6) 
Be installed by prescreened contractors as shown on a list maintained by LIPA;
(7) 
Use PV panels that have been certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory as meeting the requirements of the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Standard 1703 and inverters must be on a list of New York State Public Service Commission type-tested inverters which are tested by UL or other nationally recognized laboratories to conform with UL 1741;
(8) 
Use RSHW equipment that has been certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation under its OG-100 standard for solar collectors;
(9) 
Use other equipment such as modules, combiner boxes and a mounting system that have been approved for public use;
(10) 
Be in full compliance with all current National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements
B. 
A new property survey is not required, but if the solar energy system is proposed for an accessory structure on the residential property, the property owner will have to provide an existing survey showing that the accessory structure is legal.
C. 
A professional engineer (PE) or registered architect (RA) — certified drawing (hand-drawn or better) of the solar panel location and layout on the roof, as well as an equipment location diagram and a one-line electrical diagram are required.
D. 
To assist first responders, the Town shall maintain a list by address of all solar energy installations to be shared with relevant first responder organizations.
E. 
The Town shall require a sign on the utility meter and at any alternating current (AC) disconnect switch indicating that there is an operating solar electric cogeneration system on site.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivisions, section or other part of this article shall for any reason be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalidated, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this article, and it shall be construed to have been the legislative intent to enact this article without such unconstitutional or invalid parts.