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Minnesota Model Solar Ordinance 8 <br />1. Building Integrated Photovoltaic Systems - Building <br />integrated photovoltaic solar energy systems shall be <br />allowed regardless of whether the system is visible from <br />the public right-of-way, provided the building component in <br />which the system is integrated meets all required setback, <br />land use, or performance standards for the district in which <br />the building is located. <br />2. Aesthetic restrictions – Roof-mount or ground-mount <br />solar energy systems shall not be restricted for aesthetic <br />reasons if the system is not visible from the closest edge of <br />any public right-of-way other than an alley, or if the system <br />meets the following standards. <br />a. Roof-mounted systems on pitched roofs that are visible <br />from the nearest edge of the front right-of-way shall have <br />the same finished pitch as the roof and be no more than <br />ten inches above the roof. <br />b. Roof-mount systems on flat roofs that are visible from <br />the nearest edge of the front right-of-way shall not be more <br />than five feet above the finished roof and are exempt from <br />any rooftop equipment or mechanical system screening. <br />3. Reflectors - All solar energy systems using a reflector to <br />enhance solar production shall minimize glare from the <br />reflector affecting adjacent or nearby properties. <br />D. Lot Coverage - Ground-mount systems total collector area shall <br />not exceed half the building footprint of the principal structure. <br />1. Ground-mount systems shall be exempt from lot coverage <br />or impervious surface standards if the soil under the <br />collector is maintained in vegetation and not compacted. <br />2. Ground-mounted systems shall not count toward accessory <br />structure limitations. <br />3. Solar carports in non-residential districts ar exempt from lot <br />coverage limitations. <br />E. Historic Buildings - Solar energy systems on buildings within <br />designated historic districts or on locally designated historic <br />buildings (exclusive of State or Federal historic designation) <br />must receive approval of the community Heritage Preservation <br />Commission, consistent with the standards for solar energy <br />systems on historically designated buildings published by the <br />U.S. Department of Interior. <br />F. Plan Approval Required - All solar energy systems requiring a <br />building permit or other permit from Model Community shall <br />provide a site plan for review. <br />Building Integrated PV <br />Building integrated solar energy systems can <br />include solar energy systems built into roofing <br />(existing technology includes both solar <br />shingles and solar roofing tiles), into awnings, <br />skylights, and walls. <br />Roof-Mounted Solar Energy Systems <br />This ordinance sets a threshold for pitched <br />roof installations that they not be steeper <br />than the finished roof pitch. Mounted <br />systems steeper than the finished roof pitch <br />change the appearance of the roof, and <br />create additional considerations in regard <br />to the wind and drift load on structural roof <br />components. If the aesthetic impacts are not <br />a concern to the community, the structural <br />issues can be addressed in the building permit, <br />as described in this Toolkit. <br />Reflectors <br />Unlike a solar collector, reflector systems <br />do create a potential glare nuisance. While <br />reflector systems are unusual, communities <br />may want to include this reference as a <br />precaution. <br />Impervious Surface Coverage <br />Rather than consider the solar panel for a <br />ground-mount system as a roof, this provision <br />recognizes that the ground under the panel <br />can mitigate stormwater risks if it is kept in <br />vegetation so that rain water can infiltrate. <br />Any effects are deminimus for a small array if <br />the lot is otherwise within coverage ratios. <br />Roof Coverage <br />National Fire Code standards recommend <br />keeping solar arrays well away from roof <br />edges and peak in order to enable some fire <br />fighting access. Different fire departments <br />have addressed this in different ways. <br />Recommendations for solar friendly <br />permitting that accommodate Fire Code <br />recommendations can be found in the Solar <br />America Board of Codes and Standards. <br />Plan Approval <br />This process is generally part of the process <br />for obtaining a building permit. If the <br />community does not issue building permits, <br />it can be tied to a land use permit instead. <br />For rural areas or cities without standards for <br />rooftop systems, the plan approval section <br />may be eliminated.