Item 7EOrdinance No. 480-WWWSolar Energy Systems
What is a Solar PV System?
Typical Solar PV Systems
Typical Solar PV Systems
General InformationSolar PV Systems
Typical Payback Period – 17 Years
Low to No Maintenance required
Most systems include a Guarantee
Building-Integrated Solar PV Systems (BIPV)
* PV Shingles on Single Family Homes
Building-Integrated Solar PV Systems on Civic & Commercial Buildings
What is a Solar Thermal System?
Typical Solar Thermal Systems
General InformationSolar Thermal Systems
Typical life-expectancy of a well maintained system is from 15 to 30 years.
Low to No Maintenance required
In Texas, a solar thermal system can generate up to 90% percent of annual water heating needs.
How much do they cost?
Typical 5kW Solar PV System on a residential home is $35,000 to $45,000.
50kW commercial building system is approximately $400,000.
Solar Thermal System for a residential home is approximately $4,000 to $8,000.
For a commercial building system is approximately $15,000 and $250,000.
Residential Incentive Programs
Federal Tax Credit
30% of system cost
Texas Property Tax Exemption
100% property tax exemption on the appraised value of solar power generating devices
Oncor Energy Customer Rebates
Up to $2.46 per installed watt of system size (up to $24,600) for solar (covers approximately 1/3 of cost)
Commercial Incentive Programs
Federal Tax Credit
30% of system cost
Texas Tax Incentives
Franchise tax deduction for solar electric systems (deduct the total cost of the system from the company’s taxable capital or take 10 percent of the system’s cost off the company’s income)
100% property tax exemption on the appraised value of solar power generating devices
Oncor Energy Customer Rebates
Up to $2.46 per installed watt of system size (up to $24,600) for solar
Citizen Input / Board Review
P&Z Discussion: February 5, 2009
P&Z Discussion: March 5, 2009
SPIN Meeting: March 23, 2009
Section 4 Definitions
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS - A device or
combination of devices or elements that rely on direct sunlight as an energy source, including any substance or device that collects sunlight for the following uses: heating or cooling
of a structure or building; heating or pumping of water; or, generating electricity.
Section 34 Accessory Uses
Residential: Ground Mounted /
Roof Mounted
Non-Residential: Ground Mounted /
Roof Mounted
Residential Zones
Ground Mounted Systems:
Height: Six (6) feet
Front Yard: No system shall be located forward of the principal building on the lot.
Side and Rear: No system shall be located less then ten (10) feet from any side or rear property line.
Maximum Size: No system shall be larger than two-hundred (200) square feet combined solar panel area.
Location: No system shall be seen from a height of six (6) feet while standing on the highest grade of the adjacent public right-of-way line.
i. Corner Lots: No panels shall be visible from any adjacent public right-of-way at a height of six (6) feet.
Residential Zones
Roof Mounted Systems:
Height: No system shall be installed greater than six (6) inches between the panel and the roof.
Maximum Size: No system shall be larger than two-hundred (200) square feet combined solar panel area.
Location: No system shall be seen from a height of six (6) feet while standing on the highest grade of the adjacent public right-of-way line.
i. Corner Lots: No panels shall be visible from any adjacent public right-of-way at a height of six (6) feet.
Non-Residential Zones
Ground Mounted Systems:
Height: Six (6) feet
Front Yard: No system shall be located forward of the front most building on the lot.
Side and Rear: No system shall be located less then twenty-five (25) feet from any side or rear property line.
Maximum Size: No system shall be larger than five-hundred (500) square feet combined solar panel area.
Location: No system shall be seen from a height of six (6) feet while standing on the highest grade of the adjacent public right-of-way line.
Corner Lots: No system shall be visible from any adjacent public right-of-way at a height of six (6) feet.
Non-Residential Zones
Roof Mounted:
No system shall be visible from any public right-of-way at a height of six (6) feet.
All Zones
No solar energy system shall be constructed upon a lot until a building permit has been issued or principal use has actually been commenced.
Section 45 Specific Use Permits
Residential: Ground Mounted /
Roof Mounted
Non-Residential: Ground Mounted /
Roof Mounted
Residential Zones
Ground Mounted Systems:
Height: Six (6) feet
Front Yard: No system shall be located forward of the principal building on the lot.
Side and Rear: No system shall be located less then ten (10) feet from any side or rear property line.
Maximum Size: No system shall be larger than four-hundred (400) square feet combined solar panel area.
Location: No system shall be visible from the public right-of-way at a height of six (6) feet from where the property takes access onto.
i. Corner Lots: No panels shall be visible from any adjacent public right-of-way at a height of six (6) feet.
Residential Zones
Roof Mounted Systems:
Height: No system shall be installed greater than six (6) inches between the panel and roof.
Maximum Size: No system shall be larger than four-hundred (400) square feet combined solar panel area.
Location: No system shall be visible from the public right-of-way at a height of six (6) feet from where the property takes access onto.
i. Corner Lots: No system shall be visible from any adjacent public right-of-way at a height of six (6) feet.
Non-Residential Zones
Ground Mounted Systems:
Height: Six (6) feet
Front Yard: No system shall be located forward of the front most building on the lot.
Side and Rear: No system shall be located less then forty (40) feet from any side or rear property line.
Maximum Size: No system shall be larger than one-thousand (1000) square feet combined solar panel area.
Location: No system shall be visible from any ground level public right-of-way at a height of six (6) feet from where the property takes vehicular access onto.
i. Corner Lots: No system shall be visible from any adjacent public right-of-way at a height of six (6) feet.
Non-Residential Zones
Roof Mounted Systems:
No system shall be visible from any public right-of-way at a height of six (6) feet.
All Zones
No solar energy system shall be constructed upon a lot until a building permit has been issued or principal use has actually been commenced.
A line of sight analysis will be required in addition to the applicable submittal requirements under Section 40 (Development Plans and Site Plans) of the City of Southlake Zoning Ordinance.
Specific Use Permit Costs for All Residential Zones
$200.00 + $10/acre
Modification to:
$50 for Solar Energy System SUP
P & Z Action:
April 9, 2009 (Ordinance No. 480-WWW Solar Energy Systems) Approved (7-0) subject to the replacement of the SUP height requirement to be changed from fourteen (14) feet to six (6) feet.
QUESTIONS?