Article 23A. SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS, Appendix B. ZONING REGULATIONS, Code of Ordinances, Effingham

23A-1. Purpose. The purpose of this Article 23A is to establish reasonable and uniform regulations for the location, installation, operation and maintenance of Small Solar Energy Systems; to assure that any development and production of Small Solar Energy Systems is safe and to minimize any potentially adverse effects on the community; to promote the supply of sustainable and renewable energy resources, in support of national, state and local goals; and to facilitate energy cost savings and economic opportunities for residents and businesses situated within the City of Effingham, Illinois. (Ord. No. 30-2017, § 3, 4-18-2017)

23A-2. Small Solar Energy System—General Regulations. Small Solar Energy Systems may be erected or installed on properties within the corporate limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Effingham, Illinois, in accordance with this Article 23A, as well as all State and Federal laws and regulations, as amended from time to time, concerning the use and operation of said Small Solar Energy System, and shall be further subject to the following standards:

Except as authorized by the City Council for public utility and/or public infrastructure purposes, Small Solar Energy Systems shall only be permitted if accessory to a principal building and/or principal use.

Any person seeking to erect, construct, install, or maintain a Small Solar Energy System on property located within the corporate limits and/or extraterritorial jurisdiction of City of Effingham, Illinois, shall obtain an Electrical Permit prior to the installation of any Solar Energy System. As part of the application for an Electrical Permit, a person seeking to erect, construct, install, or maintain a Small Solar Energy System shall also submit a written narrative and/or graphic form, which includes all of the items listed below:

Name, address, and telephone number of property owner;

Name, address, and telephone number of the installer of the Small Solar Energy System;

Description of the proposed Small Solar Energy System indicating the following:

Plan showing the proposed location of the Small Solar Energy System;

ii.

System dimensions and specifications;

iii.

Evidence showing compliance with all applicable setback requirements;

iv.

Evidence showing compliance with applicable setback and/or height regulations;

Distance to any roads or overhead utility lines; and,

vi.

Compliance with each regulation contained in this Article 23A-2.

A professional engineer, licensed in the State of Illinois, shall stamp all plans and specifications for the proposed Small Solar Energy System.

Utility Notification: No grid-intertie Photovoltaic Cell system shall be installed until evidence has been given to the City of Effingham Plumbing and Electrical Inspector that the person seeking to erect or install said Small Solar Energy System has submitted notification to the utility company of their intent to install an interconnected customer-owned generator. Off-grid systems are exempt from this requirement.

The City of Effingham Fire Department shall review said application for an Electrical Permit to verify that adequate roof access will be allowed for emergency personnel in the case of an emergency.

Small Solar Energy Systems shall be installed according to manufacturer specifications and in accordance with all applicable City of Effingham, Illinois, building codes, electrical codes, fire codes, and other ordinances, codes, rules, and regulations pertaining to Small Solar Energy Systems.

Electric solar energy system components must have a UL listing.

All Small Solar Energy Systems shall have a lockable, utility accessible, load breaking, manual disconnect switch, which can be utilized to connect and/or disconnect all electric solar energy system components. The manual disconnect switch shall be located not more than four (4) feet from the building's Electric Service Meter. The manual disconnect switch shall not be obstructed from access in any manner, including, but not limited to, landscaping, shrubs, trees, terraces, fencing, etc.

All Small Solar Energy Systems shall have the following caution labels installed and/or placed on said Small Solar Energy System:

A "Caution Solar Electric System" label shall be installed and/or placed adjacent to the manual disconnect switch.

"Caution Solar Circuit" directional labels shall be placed on any and all DC raceways and equipment, and shall depict the direction of the electrical flow inside said raceway and/or other equipment. Said "Caution Solar Circuit" directional labels shall be located and spaced out not more than every ten (10) feet along said raceway.

All caution labels shall be weather resistant and reflective, with a red background and white lettering with a minimum of 3/8 inch lettering.

Type Permitted and Maximum Roof Area

For properties zoned NU, Non-Urban District, R-1, Single-Family Residence District, R-2, Single Family Residence District, R-3A, Attached Single-Family Dwelling District, R-3B, Two-Family Duplex Dwelling District, R-3C, Multiple-Dwelling District, R-3D, Multiple-Dwelling District, PRD, Planned Residence District, or R-4, Limited Office and Retail District:

Building Integrated Solar Energy Systems and/or Flush Mounted Solar Energy Systems are permitted to be installed on any roof area;

ii.

Non-Flush Mounted Solar Energy Systems are permitted on a building with a flat roof if the Solar Collector is completely screened from view to an observer five (5) feet above the ground at any point along an abutting property line;

iii.

Non-Flush Mounted Solar Energy Systems are prohibited on any roof that is adjacent to the front yard and/or corner side yard;

iv.

The Solar Collector Surface area shall not cover more than 60% of any roof area upon which the Solar Collectors are mounted, and shall be set back on the roof as follows:

Set back from the roof lower eves a minimum of four (4) feet;

Set back from the roof top edge (ridge) a minimum of four (4) feet;

Set back from the side rake a minimum of four (4) feet; and,

Set back from any roof equipment and/or other obstructions (examples: skylights, chimneys, exhaust fans, vents, etc.) a minimum of four (4) feet.

Requests for Solar Collector Surface area greater than 60% of any roof area, but which does not depart from the setback requirements, may be allowed following the applicant securing a variance per Article 29 of this Appendix B; and,

vi.

Reflection angles from Solar Collector surfaces shall be oriented away from neighboring windows.

For properties zoned B-1, Neighborhood Shopping District, B-2, General Commercial District, B-3, Central Business District, B-4, Planned Shopping Center District, B-5, Highway Commercial District, POM, Planned Office and Limited Industrial District, PUD-C, Planned Unit Development- Commercial, M-1, Light Industrial District, or M-2, Heavy Industrial District:

Building Integrated Solar Energy Systems and/or Flush Mounted Solar Energy Systems are permitted to be installed on any roof area;

ii.

iii.

Non-Flush Mounted Solar Energy Systems are prohibited on any roof that is adjacent to the front yard and/or corner side yard;

iv.

The Solar Collector Surface area shall not cover more than 60% of any roof area upon which the Solar Collectors are mounted, and shall be set back on the roof as follows:

Set back from the roof lower eves a minimum of four (4) feet;

Set back from the roof top edge (ridge) a minimum of four (4) feet;

Set back from the side rake a minimum of four (4) feet; and,

Set back from any roof equipment and/or other obstructions (examples: skylights, chimneys, exhaust fans, vents, etc.) a minimum of four (4) feet.

Maximum Permitted Height & Building Projection/Extension:

The Small Solar Energy System shall conform to the height regulations of the zoning district in which the property where the Small Solar Energy System is to be installed, mounted, built is located;

ii.

Non-Flush Mounted Solar Energy Systems shall not extend above the highest point on the roof line; and,

iii.

Small Solar Energy Systems shall not project/extend beyond the exterior wall of any building on which said Small Solar Energy System has been installed, mounted, or built.

The Small Solar Energy System shall conform to the height regulations of the zoning district in which the property where the Small Solar Energy System is to be installed, mounted, built is located;

ii.

Non-Flush Mounted Solar Energy Systems shall not extend above the highest point on the roof line or a parapet wall; and,

iii.

Small Solar Energy Systems shall not project/extend beyond the exterior wall of any building on which said Small Solar Energy System has been installed, mounted, or built.

Self-Contained Solar Energy Systems: The provisions of this Article 23A-2 shall not apply to a Self-Contained Solar Energy System in Article 1 of this Appendix B, provided, however, that a Self-Contained Solar Energy System(s) shall be limited to an aggregate Solar Collector Surface area of less than or equal to 6 square feet. (Ord. No. 30-2017, § 3, 4-18-2017)

23A-3. Large Solar Energy Systems. Large Solar Energy Systems shall be prohibited and are not permitted to be constructed on any property within the corporate limits and/or extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Effingham, Illinois. (Ord. No. 30-2017, § 3, 4-18-2017)

23A-4. Ground Mounted Solar Energy Systems. Ground Mounted Energy Systems shall be prohibited and are not permitted to be constructed on any property within the corporate limits and/or extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Effingham, Illinois. (Ord. No. 30-2017, § 3, 4-18-2017)