Fontana, CA Solar Energy: Expedited Solar Permitting (2026)

Article XX of Chapter 5, added by Ord. No. 1732 on August 25, 2015, applies to every small residential rooftop solar energy system in the city, defined as a system no larger than 10 kilowatts AC (or 30 kilowatts thermal) installed on a single or duplex dwelling that meets state fire, structural and electrical code standards. Sec. 5-604(c) required the building official to adopt an administrative, nondiscretionary expedited review process, including standard plans and a compliance checklist, by September 30, 2015, modeled on the California Solar Permitting Guidebook published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.

Before filing, Sec. 5-605 requires the applicant to verify, using standard engineering methods, that the roof structure can carry the added wind, seismic and dead/live loads, and, at the applicant's own cost, that the existing electrical panel and wiring can carry the new photovoltaic load. Sec. 5-606 guarantees electronic submittal of all application documents and accepts electronic signatures in place of a wet signature. Under Sec. 5-607, an application meeting the checklist is deemed complete on submission; an incomplete one draws a written correction notice listing every deficiency, and the city cannot condition approval on approval from a homeowners' association under Civil Code Section 4080.

Sec. 5-608 caps review to a single inspection by the building and safety division for systems eligible for expedited review, though a failed system may be reinspected outside the article's timing rules.