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(a) The County Building Inspection Division shall adopt an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems within thirty (30) days of the adoption of this ordinance. The Building Inspection Division shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit so as to substantially conform to the requirements of AB 2188 and the California Solar Permitting Guidebook following the receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan. (Ord. 2538, § 1, 10/13/2015)

(b) Review of the application shall be limited to the Building Official’s review of whether the application meets local, State and Federal health and safety requirements. (Ord. 2538, § 1, 10/13/2015)

(c) Where adopted California Building Standards Code conflict with prescribed code requirements found in the most recently adopted California Solar Permitting Guidebook, the code requirements found in the California Solar Permitting Guidebook shall control. (Ord. 2538, § 1, 10/13/2015)

(d) A building official may deny an application for a permit if the official makes written findings based upon substantive evidence in the record that the proposed installation would have a specific adverse impact upon public health or safety and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid, as defined, the adverse impact. Such findings shall include the basis for the rejection of the potential feasible alternatives for preventing the adverse impact. Such decision may be appealed to the Board of Appeals. (Ord. 2538, § 1, 10/13/2015)

(e) Any condition imposed on an application shall be designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon health and safety at the lowest possible cost. (Ord. 2538, § 1, 10/13/2015)

(f) “A feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact” includes, but is not limited to, any cost effective method, condition or mitigation imposed by the County on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for a permit. The County shall use its best efforts to ensure that the selected method, condition or mitigation meets the conditions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 714 of the Civil Code defining restrictions that do not significantly increase the cost of the system or decrease its efficiency or specified performance. (Ord. 2538, § 1, 10/13/2015)

(g) The County shall not condition approval of an application on the approval of an association as defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code. (Ord. 2538, § 1, 10/13/2015)

(h) If an application is deemed incomplete, a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance shall be sent to the applicant for resubmission. (Ord. 2538, § 1, 10/13/2015)

(i) Only one (1) inspection shall be required and performed by the Building Inspection Division for small rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review. (Ord. 2538, § 1, 10/13/2015)

(j) The inspection shall be done in a timely manner and should include consolidated inspections. Inspections shall be scheduled so as to substantially conform to AB 2188 and the California Solar Permitting Guidebook. (Ord. 2538, § 1, 10/13/2015)

(k) If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized, but need not conform to the requirements of this ordinance. (Ord. 2538, § 1, 10/13/2015)