Adding solar or photovoltaic panels to a home or business in Fresno County is a great way to combat rising energy prices while reducing dependence on less environmentally friendly energy sources like coal or natural gas. But before you consider investing in a new solar system, it's important to understand the permitting and photovoltaic requirements in Fresno County and how they may affect the planning and construction process.
Submitting a Plan for a Photovoltaic System Installation
Before a permit for a new solar system can be acquired, a detailed plan must be submitted that describes the specifications of the building site, the electrical system, and the mounting system for the solar panels. The submittal must contain two copies of each of the following documents:
A Site Plan
This will be a detailed technical drawing of the building site, complete with property lines, setbacks, existing structures, and any new structures that will be added to facilitate the solar installation, such as solar array ground mounts or trellises.
The plan must be drawn at an acceptable scale. It also must show the distance of the solar array from the nearest property lines if it is ground mounted, as well as the locations of equipment like the solar panels, the existing AC electrical panel, the AC disconnect, the DC disconnect, and the DC to AC inverter. The plan also needs to include the property’s address and ownership information.
An Electrical Plan
A comprehensive electrical plan must be provided that describes all of the photovoltaic system’s specifications, including:
- The number of photovoltaic panels and strings
- System voltage and kilowatt output
- Specifications of all disconnects, combiners, and inverters
- The ampere ratings of main electrical busses, service disconnects, and PV circuit breakers
- The size and type of all raceways and conductors
- Manufacturer's electrical specifications for all inverters and modules
A Structural Plan
This plan will describe the mounting system for the solar panels. The requirements will vary depending on the mounting structure required:
- Ground-mounted solar arrays: The plan must include specifications for all solar mounting structures, such as ground-mount systems, trellises, or patio covers. If pre-manufactured solar racking and mounting systems are used, the plan must also include the manufacturer's installation specifications.
- Roof-mounted solar arrays: When an existing roof is used, a detailed plan must be submitted that demonstrates the ability of the existing roof structure to safely distribute the extra weight of the solar array through the building’s structure and down to the ground. This will typically require detailed roof framing plans, cross-sections, and structural calculations, and it may require plans from a licensed architect or engineer to certify that the roof can handle the load. The plan will also need to include details about the roof composition, such as architectural shingles or tiles, and specifications of the mounting system.
Obtaining the Necessary Permits
There will be fees required to obtain the photovoltaic permit, including a base fee for systems of up to 10 panels, plus an additional fee for every panel over 10 and a standard electrical fee.
In addition to the photovoltaic permit, an electrical permit may be required if any modifications are made to the existing electrical system, such as a service panel upgrade. A building permit will be required if the roof must be modified to carry the load of the solar panels, and an additional building permit will be necessary for any new structures that are built to accommodate the solar system, such as ground mounts, trellises, car covers, or patio covers.
Work must begin within 180 days after the permits are issued.
Required Inspections
To ensure the solar system is in compliance with all California building codes and electrical codes, several inspections will be required during the solar installation process, including:
- Electrical Underground
- Electrical Rough
- Electrical Final
- Structural-Foundation
- Structural-Rough Framing
- Structural-Final
Passing these inspections helps to ensure that your solar system is safe, built properly, and will perform at its best.
Residential & Commercial Solar Installations in the Fresno Area
If you are considering a solar installation for your home or business in Fresno County or the Central Valley region, talk to our experts at Simply Solar. We provide turnkey residential and commercial solar energy systems that are custom-designed to meet your needs, and we handle all the planning and permitting processes to make the solar installation as convenient as possible. We feature experienced, in-house solar technicians who provide exceptional service and workmanship, and all of our solar systems are backed by a 25-year workmanship warranty.
Save money and help the environment with a residential or commercial solar system from our team at Simply Solar. Call (707) 285-7037 or contact us online to schedule your FREE in-home solar consultation in the Fresno area today.
