Chino Hills, CA Solar Energy: Expedited Solar Permitting (2026)

030. 050, the Director, defined as the City Manager or, absent another designation, the Community Development Director, must post all application documents online, accept electronic submittal and signature, and publish a standard plan and checklist for expedited review that substantially conforms to the state's California Solar Permitting Guidebook. 060 then sets the actual turnaround: the Director must run an administrative, nondiscretionary review and issue a ministerial building permit the same day for an over-the-counter application, or within three business days for an electronic submittal, once the application meets the approved checklist and standard plan.

Review is limited to whether the application meets applicable law; the Director cannot condition approval on forming a homeowners' association. If the Director finds, based on substantial evidence, that the system could have a specific, adverse impact on public health and safety, the Director may instead require an administrative use permit, a decision the applicant can appeal to the Planning Commission. Systems legally installed before the chapter's effective date, adopted by Ordinance No. 290 in 2015, are grandfathered unless later physical modifications require new permitting.