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Model Sustainable Development Ordinances8 Solar Energy Standards roof applications a drawing shall be submitted showing the distance to the roof edge and any parapets on the building and shall identify the height of the building on the street frontage side, the shortest distance of the system from the street frontage edge of the building, and the highest finished height of the solar collector above the finished surface of the roof. 2. Plan Approvals - Applications that meet the design requirements of this ordinance, and do not require an administrative variance, shall be granted administrative approval by the zoning official and shall not require Planning Commission review. Plan approval does not indicate compliance with Building Code or Electric Code. F. Compliance with Building Code - All active solar energy systems shall meet approval of local building code officials, consistent with the State of Minnesota Building Code, and solar thermal systems shall comply with HVAC-related requirements of the Energy Code. G. Compliance with State Electric Code - All photovoltaic systems shall comply with the Minnesota State Electric Code. H. Compliance with State Plumbing Code - Solar thermal systems shall comply with applicable Min- nesota State Plumbing Code requirements. I. Utility Notification - All grid-intertie solar energy systems shall comply with the interconnection requirements of the electric utility. Off-grid systems are exempt from this requirement. V. Administrative Variance - Model Community encourages the installation of productive solar energy systems and recognizes that a balance must be achieved between character and aesthetic considerations and the reasonable desire of building owners to harvest their renewable energy resources. Where the standards in Section IV. A., B., or C. cannot be met without diminishing, as defined below, the minimum reasonable performance of the solar energy system, an administrative variance may be sought from the zoning official. An administrative variance shall be granted if the administrative variance standards are met. A. Minimum Performance Design Standards - The following design thresholds are necessary for efficient operation of a solar energy system: 1. Fixed-Mount Active Solar Energy Systems - Solar energy systems must be mounted to face with 45 degrees of south (180 degrees azimuth). 2. Solar electric (photovoltaic) systems must have a pitch that is within 20 degrees of latitude, a pitch of between 20 and 65 degrees. Administrative Variance This model language uses an administrative vari- ance process to balance between aesthetic design considerations and the building owner’s choice to use the property for generating renewable en- ergy. Administrative variances allow staff to departures from the design standards when such departures are necessary in order to allow for efficient harvest of solar energy, without having to get Planning Commission approval or pay ad- ditional fees. The administrative variance stan- dards spell out the conditions that staff would use to judge if the system genuinely could not be designed consistently with Section IV. (such as a lack of solar access except on the front of the building), and the metrics by which staff would judge screening or visual integration with the building. Some communities will have other means to allow this, or will have a conditional use permit process that does not create burden- some additional regulation. Restrictions on Solar Energy Systems One of the most common barriers to solar energy in developing areas are restrictive covenants in new subdivisions. The covenants are intended to maintain an the appearance of homes, property values, and saleability. If, however, the local gov- ernment provides solar design standards that pro- tect against poor design of solar accessory uses, it is reasonable to prevent the developer or hom- eowner’s association from creating unwarranted restrictions on a sustainable source of energy.