Martinez, CA

Martinez, California earned SolSmart Gold in 2025 by adopting a comprehensive suite of actions to make solar more affordable and accessible for residents. That includes automated solar permitting, supporting a community-wide group purchase program, providing community choice aggregation that includes solar PV, requiring new construction to be solar-ready, 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
• Supported a solar informational session and/or solar tour explaining solar PV opportunities and policies
• Required new local government facilities and/or facility retrofits meeting a specific threshold to be solar ready
• Supported a community-wide group purchase program (e.g., Solarize)
• Provided residents with Community Choice Aggregation/Energy that includes solar PV as a power generation source
• Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of the community’s permitting process for residential rooftop solar PV
• Trained permitting staff on best practices for permitting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems
• Trained inspection staff on best practices for inspecting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems
• Posted an online statement confirming a three-business day turnaround time for residential rooftop solar PV
• Demonstrated pathway for instant/automatic approval of residential rooftop solar PV systems (e.g., using SolarAPP+)
• Posted community metrics related to the number of solar PV and solar + storage permits & inspections processed by the community annually, average annual permitting & inspection timelines
• Adopted a standard solar PV permit application form aligned with best practices
• Distinguished between solar PV systems qualifying for streamlined and standard permit review
• Required no more than one permit application form for a small rooftop solar PV system
• Provided an online process for solar PV permit submission and approval
• Received a demonstration of an instant or automated platform (e.g., SolarAPP+) and discuss how it might be implemented in the permitting process
• 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 the community’s solar plus (e.g., battery storage, and/or electric vehicle charging) permitting process
• Required no more than one inspection for small rooftop solar PV
• Presented PZ-1 memo findings to planning commission or relevant body
• Codified in the zoning ordinance that accessory use rooftop solar PV is explicitly allowed by-right in all major zones
• Required new construction affordable housing and multifamily housing to be solar ready
• Trained planning and zoning staff on best practices in planning and zoning for solar PV
• 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)
• Reviewed zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development
• Ensured the zoning ordinance language does not include intentional or unintentional barriers to accessory use rooftop solar PV