Bedford, NH

To earn their SolSmart Silver designation, Bedford upgraded their zoning rules, made solar installation information clear and accessible to the public, trained permitting and inspection staff in current best practices, and more!

• Posted online resources about residential and commercial solar PV financing options and incentives.
• Posted online resources about solar installers and/or solar quote platforms for solar PV.
• Posted a solar landing page on local government s website with information that may include the community s solar goals, educational materials and tools that promote solar, and resources for solar development.
• Demonstrated that residential permit fees for solar PV are $500 or less.
• Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of your community s permitting process for small rooftop solar PV.
• Offered inspection appointment times in lieu of appointment windows for solar PV.
• Required no more than two inspections for small rooftop solar PV.
• Trained permitting and inspection staff on best practices for permitting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems.
• Reviewed zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development.
• Ensured the zoning ordinance establishes a clear regulatory pathway for large-scale solar PV.
• Ensured the zoning ordinance permits small ground-mounted solar PV as an accessory use in at least one zoning district.
• Provided clear guidance for the installation of solar PV on historic properties and in special overlay districts.
• Codified in the zoning ordinance that accessory use solar PV is explicitly allowed by-right in all major zones.