For First Time, Village Regulates Solar Energy Systems

Interested in adding solar panels to your property? 

The village now has building regulations for that. 

The village board voted last Thursday to approve several amendments to village code, some of which addressed new regulations for solar energy systems. Before the vote, there were no regulations in place for such systems. 

As defined by the village, a solar energy system is "a system that uses the power of the sun to capture, distribute and/or store energy for on-site consumption of utility power." 

According to village documents, "...there are a handful of single-family residences with roof-mounted solar energy systems and staff recognizes the interest by property owners and benefits of solar energy systems.

The proposed regulations are intended to provide guidance that will appropriately direct the installation of solar technology within the community, including roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar energy systems in all zoning districts." 

Here are the regulations passed by the village board last Thursday: 

Permits

A building permit must be obtained before starting construction on a solar energy system. 

Solar shingles

Solar shingles (defined as photovoltaic shingles that directly integrate with typical asphalt shingles which serve as a conventional shingle for weather protection, while generation clean solar electricity to commercial and residential buildings) are permitted in all zoning districts. 

Roof-mounted solar energy system

• May be mounted on or attached to any principal or accessory building on a lot, but can't exceed 5050 of the total roof area 
• Height limitations: Can't exceed a total height of 10 feet as measured from the roof surface where the system is mounted to the highest edge of the system, and can't be five feet above the roofline height or five feet above the maximum permitted height of the zoning district, whichever is less 

Ground-mounted solar energy system 

• Only one permitted per lot 
• Can't be located within the required front, side or exterior side yard of any lot or in any public utility easement
• All parts must be set back at least five feet from any property line
• Height limitations: Can't exceed six feet as measured from the average grade at the base of the system to the highest edge of the system 
• Surface area limitations: Can't exceed a total surface area of 168 square feet 

Maintenance

If the system is not properly maintained in compliance with building and technical codes, the village will provide written notification to the property owner, who will have 90 days to restore the system to operation or remove the system.