Aliso Viejo, CA Solar Energy: Expedited Solar Permitting (2026)

Chapter 15.68 of the Aliso Viejo Municipal Code creates an expedited, streamlined solar permitting process. Its purpose clause ties the chapter to the Solar Rights Act, as amended by AB 2188, and to the city's Housing Element energy conservation program. Section 15.68.060 is the operative review rule.

Same-day issuance is in subsection (B). If all of the information is submitted and approved under AVMC 15.68.050, including supporting documents, and within the building department's public counter hours, a permit is issued on the day of the approval by the building official or his or her designee. The reviewing authority under subsection (A) is the building official; for windows and doors and for air conditioning units, the director of planning services or a designee joins the review.

Subsection (C) covers a deficient filing. The city sends the applicant a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance, and the applicant resubmits. Subsection (D) bars the city from conditioning approval of an application for a solar energy system on the approval of an association, as defined in California Civil Code Section 4080. A homeowners association in the City of Aliso Viejo therefore cannot hold up the city's permit for solar.

Eligibility comes from AVMC 15.68.030(A): solar photovoltaic for one-half watt per square foot of the total square footage of the home, small residential rooftop solar energy systems, and solar thermal that meets 50 percent of the domestic hot water needs, among other efficiency measures. A small residential rooftop solar energy system is no larger than 10 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or 30 kilowatts thermal, sits on a single or duplex family dwelling, and has an array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height. Under AVMC 15.68.070, 25 percent of the building permit fees are waived when the applicant meets the threshold, and AVMC 15.68.040 requires notice of that waiver at the public counter at City Hall.