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6/20/2012 Page 1 of 4 DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND INSPECTIONS CITY OF SAINT PAUL 375 Jackson Street, Suite 220 Telephone: 651-266-9090 Christopher B. Coleman, Mayor Saint Paul, MN 55101-1806 Facsimile: 651-266-9124 Web: www.stpaul.gov/dsi Design Standards and Guidelines for Solar Energy Systems Design of solar energy systems is subject to the following Saint Paul standards and guidelines: Specific dimensional standards under Legislative Code § 65.921, Solar energy system. General city-wide design standards for rooftop equipment under Leg. Code § 63.110(e). Design review by the Heritage Preservation Commission under Legislative Code § 73.06 for locations within designated historic sites and districts. These standards are detailed below. The most restrictive standard governs. Solar energy systems are also subject to building code requirements, and a building permit is required. Specific Dimensional Standards for Solar Energy Systems Legislative Code § 65.921, Solar energy system, includes the following standards and conditions: (a) Building mounted systems shall be subject to the dimensional standards that apply to the building, provided that the height standards for building mounted systems in residential districts shall be as follows: (1) The system shall extend no more than three (3) feet above the surface of a roof at its exterior perimeter, and shall be set back at least one (1) foot from the exterior perimeter for every additional foot that the system extends above the height of the roof at its exterior perimeter. (2) The system may not extend more than three (3) feet above the ridge of a gable, gambrel, hip or mansard roof. For systems mounted on a commercial or industrial building within five (5) feet of a commercial or industrial building on an adjoining lot, a system that does not conform to the height standards that apply to the building may extend up to fifteen (15) feet above the surface of a flat roof along the common property line. (b) Freestanding systems shall be treated as accessory buildings for the purpose of maximum height, maximum lot area coverage, and location requirements; provided that freestanding systems in residential districts shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height within ten (10) feet of a parkway or an interior property line, except for a property line along an alley, with additional height equal to additional setback from property lines permitted to a maximum height of twenty-five (25) feet.