[Adopted 5-5-2015 by L.L.
No. 2-2015]
A.Â
It is
the intention of the Northport Village 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 the Unified Solar Permit Process. It is important to establish
a process which establishes a standardized permit for use by all New
York municipalities that simplifies and streamlines the permitting
of small-scale photovoltaic systems and fast-tracks the permit process.
The fast-track process is modeled on the guideline recommendations
of the Long Island Unified Solar Permitting Initiative, whereby the
installation of standard solar energy systems can be standardized,
simplified and accelerated in towns and villages across Long Island.
A.Â
All building
permit applications for installation of photovoltaic systems on residential
and nonresidential buildings shall be expedited by the Northport Village
Building Department. Applications for standard installations on residential
and nonresidential property shall be determined within 14 business
days of the filing of a completed application. If the application
is incomplete or deficient, it shall be returned to the applicant
within seven days of receipt by the Village of Northport Building
Department.
B.Â
For the
purpose of this article, the term "standard installation" shall mean
those installations that meet the following criteria and any subsequent
amendment thereto:
(1)Â
Are
not subject to architectural review;
(2)Â
Are
proposed for installation on a roof with a single layer of roof covering;
(3)Â
Are
to be flush-mounted parallel to the roof surface and no more than
six inches above the surface;
(4)Â
Have
an eighteen-inch clearing at one side of the roof ridge and at least
an eighteen-inch clearing path to the ridge;
(5)Â
Add
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)Â
Be
installed by contractors which are on LIPA's prescreened solar contractor
list;
(7)Â
Use
PV panels that have been certified by a nationally recognized testing
laboratory as meeting the requirements of the Underwriters' Laboratories
(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)Â
Use
RSHW equipment that has been certified by the Solar Rating and Certification
Corporation under its OG-100 standard for solar collectors;
(9)Â
Use
other equipment such as modules, combiner boxes and a mounting system
that have been approved for public use; and
(10)Â
Be in full compliance with all current National Electrical Code (NEC)
requirements.
C.Â
The application
for the installation of photovoltaic system shall be in substantial
conformity with the requirements of the Long Island Unified Solar
Permitting Initiative and its solar energy fast-track permit application.
All building permit application fees for small-scale photovoltaic
systems on residential and nonresidential structures shall be waived,
provided the installation has not been commenced or completed before
a permit has been applied for or issued.
Prior to the issuance of a certificate of completion or compliance,
a sign (or decal) shall be affixed by the property owner to the utility
meter and at any alternating current (AC) disconnect switch indicating
the existence of an operating solar electric cogeneration system on
site.