LA to Lower Solar Permit Fees
Photo credit: kla4067
Recent studies performed by the Sierra Club in California have brought to light a glaring disparity between local solar installation fees, even in cities otherwise pushing hard for local solar development. The problem lies in solar permitting fees, which vary incredibly from city to city and county to county.
The Sierra Club conducted studies for northern and southern California individually. They found differences in fees in the thousands of dollars from one municipality to others nearby, and pointed to high permit fees as a disincentive for solar.
The first study, of northern California, resulted in many cities and counties drastically lowering their fees. Then came southern California, where Los Angeles County stood out by charging well over what neighboring counties did. Permitting fees in LA County averaged $1,143 compared to $426 in Orange County, $404 in Riverside, $401 in San Bernadino, and $336 in Ventura County.
On release of the study, and after a look into inspection costs, LA county supervisors were quick to act. Now solar permit fees will be significantly lowered, from $1,143 down to $370. Supervisors voted unanimously to lower the fees.
The issue of permit fees is not limited to California, however, but it is a problem that remains below the radar because of its amazing variability. Business-as-usual in many counties and municipalities is to total permit fees at a set percentage of a project’s cost. But because solar panels are so expensive up front — averaging $20,000 to $30,000 for a standard residential system — the permit fees can even climb into the five digit range depending on local laws, a number that far outstrips the actual cost to the city to perform the inspections.
Thanks to studies such as those performed by the Sierra Club in California and activism among homeowners and installers, many states, counties, and cities are instituting uniform permit fees for commercial and residential solar installations.
It is really a no-brainer, as evidenced by so many quick reactions to the news. There is no need, if not unlawful, to charge homeowners and businesses exorbitant permit fees; with lower, set fees you no longer disincentivize solar and the city can still make a few bucks to channel into personnel and other local necessities.
Posted on July 17th in Solar News by Dan.