Lacey, WA

The City of Lacey, Washington worked to increase solar access by supporting group purchase programs, updating zoning, permitting, and inspection practices, and acquiring solar energy for municipal facilities, among other achievements.

• Posted online resources about residential and commercial solar PV financing options and incentives
• Posted an online summary of state policies related to a property owners solar access and solar rights, including links to state-level policy
• Posted an online summary of state policies related to Homeowner Associations (HOAs) ability to regulate and/or restrict solar PV, including links to state-level policy
• Posted online resources about solar installers and/or solar quote platforms for solar PV
• Posted an online solar map for your community
• 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
• Local government has procured solar energy for municipal operations or signed contract to procure solar energy for municipal operations through an offsite physical PPA, virtual PPA, green tariff, or similar structure
• Supported a community-wide group purchase program (e.g., Solarize)
• Supported a community solar program.
• Provided an online process for solar PV permit submission and approval
• Posted an online statement confirming a three-business day turnaround time for residential rooftop solar PV
• Trained inspection and permitting staff on best practices for inspecting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems
• Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of your community’s permitting process for residential rooftop solar PV
• Demonstrated that residential permit fees for solar PV are $500 or less
• Posted solar PV inspection requirements online, including the inspection process and what details inspectors will review
• Reviewed zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development
• Presented PZ-1 memo findings to planning commission or relevant body
• Required new construction to be solar ready in at least one zoning district by adopting Appendix U (International Code Council), Appendix RB (International Energy Conservation Code), or another mechanism
• Included specific solar PV goals, metrics, and strategies in the most current published version of relevant local plans (e.g., energy plan, climate plan, comprehensive plan)
• Shared solar PV progress towards achieving targets or metrics from PZ-20 on the solar landing page
• Posted an online document from the Planning/Zoning Department that states accessory use solar PV is allowed by-right in all major zones