Fountain Valley, CA Solar Energy: Expedited Solar Permitting (2026)

Chapter 18.27 states its purpose in § 18.27.010: an expedited, streamlined solar permitting process that complies with the Solar Rights Act and AB 2188 (Chapter 521, Statutes 2014), aimed at timely and cost-effective installation of small residential rooftop solar energy systems while protecting public health and safety.

Eligibility is defined in § 18.27.020(b). A small residential rooftop solar energy system is no larger than ten kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or thirty kilowatts thermal, conforms to the state fire, structural, electrical and other building codes the city has adopted, is installed on a single- or duplex-family dwelling, and uses a panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height. Section 18.27.030 applies the chapter to all such systems in the city. Systems legally established before the ordinance are not subject to it unless physical modifications materially change the size, type or components, and routine operation and maintenance or like-kind replacements do not require a permit.

Section 18.27.050 lists what the building department owes applicants. Every document required for an expedited application is posted on the publicly accessible city website. Electronic submittal over the Internet is available to all applicants, and an electronic signature is accepted on all forms in place of a wet signature. The department adopts a standard plan and a checklist of every requirement a system must meet to qualify. Those documents substantially conform to the checklist and standard plans in the most current California Solar Permitting Guidebook adopted by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research. All fees must comply with Government Code Sections 65850.55, 66015 and 66016 and State Health and Safety Code Section 17951.

The chapter also defines reasonable restrictions. For photovoltaic systems, a restriction is not reasonable if it adds more than one thousand dollars over the system cost as originally specified and proposed or cuts efficiency by more than ten percent. For water heater or solar swimming pool heating systems the cost test is ten percent of the system cost, capped at one thousand dollars.