solar energy

The city's zoning ordinance includes a division on sustainable energy generation that addresses wind and solar energy systems. The ordinance permits rooftop and building-mounted as well as ground-mounted solar energy systems in all districts with a building permit subject to standards (Sec. 98-552). Standards address location, height, and lot coverage restrictions. Systems nonfunctioning for more than 12 months must be removed.

The ordinance also addresses solar access permits protecting the right to sunlight and prohibiting neighboring property owners from erecting structures or planting vegetation that would cause prohibited interference to a solar energy system (Sec. 98-553). The code defines the permit application and review process, and defines permitted and prohibited obstructions in this context.