Salem, OR Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

060(f) expressly allows solar panels and other rooftop mechanical structures to be added to historic-contributing buildings and individually listed public historic resources, so the rule is a design filter, not a ban. Materials are restricted: non-reflective glass and metal panels are allowed, while reflective glass and plastic frames are prohibited outright. On design, panels cannot alter the existing roof profile; they must be mounted parallel to the roof plane on a rear-facing roof slope, or placed on the ground in an inconspicuous location if a rooftop mount would be visible.

The same subsection folds in related rooftop items: satellite dishes, TV antennae, and other rooftop mechanical structures must be installed so they are not visible from the street and do not damage or obscure significant architectural features, and skylights added alongside solar work must be flat, since bubble-type skylights are prohibited. 060(f); limited to a secondary facade, it drops to Class 1 minor review. 063(f), with no separate secondary-facade track listed. This table and subsection apply specifically to public historic districts; Salem's residential and commercial historic district tables in the same chapter do not carry an equivalent solar-panel line, so a solar installation outside a public historic district follows the City's ordinary building permit process instead.