System

New rooftop residential retrofit PV systems

Installed by contractor with all licenses required by jurisdiction

Each residence must have a unique utility meter

Lithium Ion batteries

New residential energy storage systems (ESS)

Structural

Detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress

No carports, patio covers and/or other non-permanent structures

No modifications, alterations, or upgrades to the structure

No ground mounted systems

Installations in multi-family structures or R-2 occupancies shall not be permitted.

Installations on mobile homes governed by Heath and Safety Code and/or Housing and Urban Development regulations shall not be permitted.

Penetrations within 4 ft of the fire-rated property line on the roof of a townhome shall not be permitted.

The project must comply with the applicable California Residential Code

PV system + hardware weight is less than or equal to 4.0 psf

At least 20% of each tilt-up mounted array must be contained under 2 feet above the roof

The new system must be installed on a permitted structure

No wood shake or wood shingle roofing allowed with a new rooftop PV system

Limit of 10” above the roof for flush mount PV arrays on pitched (>2/12) roof surfaces

Metal roof or low-slope roof installations in areas with > 15psf snow load are not supported

ESS must be less than 400lbs and its center of mass shall be located less than 4ft from the floor in high seismic areas (Seismic Design Category D,E,F)

Fire

The project must comply with the applicable California Residential Code

ESS shall not be installed within the habitable space of a dwelling unit

Electrical

The project must comply with the applicable California Electric Code

600V maximum series string voltage

Single phase 240V or 208V residential utility services only

Aluminum wires are only allowed for backup initiation device feeders, such aluminum conductors shall not be smaller than size 1/0 AWG.

Must use 600V rated PV wire, or equivalent, for exposed, rooftop DC conductors

Must use 90 deg C rated insulated wire

Max 2 DC strings in parallel

Inverter output circuit conductors must be THWN-2, or listed NM

Terminals must be rated to 75 deg C, labeled for use with Cu wires, and accept minimum 8 AWG wire

Microinverters or AC Modules branch circuit overcurrent protection device must be rated for a maximum of 20A

Permitted to install on up to or equal to 400A service

Permitted to install on up to or equal to 200A service disconnect

Permitted to install on up to or equal to 225A busbars

May include an existing PV system with one (1) module type and multiple PV inverters

May install only 1 PV module model

May install up to 2 inverters for string inverters

May install up to 1 inverter model for microinverters and AC modules

Underground conductors must be trenched in a minimum of Schedule 40 PVC

Modules and inverters must be listed in the California Energy Commission’s database of approved equipment

Rapid shutdown cannot be satisfied using the method: No exposed wiring or conductive parts [690.12(B)(2)(3)]

May include up to two (2) points of interconnection to premises wiring systems

No new loads, only new monitoring circuits are allowed

Equipment listed for continuous use at 100% of its rating is not considered

May install only 1 racking system model

Height of rooftop conduit > = 7/8"

Flat plate PV modules only

Energy storage systems and batteries must be listed in the California Energy Commission’s database of approved equipment

ESS must be paired with new PV