Orange, CA Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

050 sets the application mechanics for a small residential rooftop solar permit in Orange. All documents required for an expedited application must be posted on the city website, and electronic submittal of the application and supporting documents by email or the internet must be available to every applicant, not just an optional convenience. The Building and Safety Division adopts a standard plan and checklist spelling out every requirement a small residential rooftop system must satisfy to qualify for expedited review, and that process, standard plan and checklist must substantially conform to the recommendations in the current California Solar Permitting Guidebook published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.

040: every system must meet applicable state and city health and safety standards; a solar water-heating system, whether for a single-family residence or a commercial or pool application, must be certified by an accredited listing agency under the California Plumbing and Mechanical Code; and a system that produces electricity must meet the California Electrical Code, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers standards, testing by an accredited laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories, and, where applicable, Public Utilities Commission safety and reliability rules. 18 as a whole applies only to systems no larger than 10 kilowatts AC (or 30 kilowatts thermal) on a single- or two-family dwelling that doesn't exceed the city's maximum legal building height, and it was adopted by Ordinance 06-15 in 2015 to implement the Solar Rights Act and AB 2188 (Cal. 5).