Renewable Energy Equipment - Solar

On Dec. 11, Dublin City Council voted to amend Ordinance 66-23, in response to feedback from residents, industry leadership and business community members about adopted solar regulations.

The City’s Community Planning & Development division had been gathering feedback since the Code’s adoption in June 2023. Staff identified two requirements that were the most problematic to approval of applications. These were the color and configuration requirements.

The amended ordinance:

• Differentiates the front exterior of a structure from side and rear.
• On front exteriors, aesthetic requirements including color and configuration will be applicable. These two requirements are not applicable to side and rear.
• All other regulations remain for residential districts.
• In non-residential districts, aesthetic requirements were modified for flat roofs to allow any color panels (including panels with white and grey lines) to be permissible, based on the requirement that the panels be screened and making any aesthetic requirement related to color and appearance of panels unnecessary.

Staff will continue to monitor and collect feedback.

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On June 12, Dublin City Council voted to adopt revised zoning code regulations surrounding the use of renewable energy equipment for solar, including rules regarding location, materials and aesthetics for installation on residential and non-residential properties.

The City’s renewable energy equipment (solar) regulations promote sustainable environmental practices and stewardship while balancing the high-quality development standards that define the character of the community. Promoting renewable energy is an intentional objective of the City of Dublin and these regulations promote the installation of solar energy, among other renewable energy practices, in the most effective method possible.

Installation of any solar energy equipment requires permits through the City of Dublin Building Division.

• Residential Areas: Roof-mounted equipment is permitted to the side and rear of a structure. Equipment is permitted to the front of the structure when it is demonstrated that it promotes the greatest efficiency. In order to show this, residents need to provide documentation from the solar company with the permit application. There are additional requirements including panels shall be mounted parallel to the roof plane, limit protrusions, not extend beyond the ridgeline or edge of building, use a single material, similar configuration as roof line, minimize corners, installed in a rectangular configuration and be similar color as roof.
• Non-Residential Areas: Roof-mounted equipment must meet the same requirements as non-residential equipment and is the only district that permits ground-mounted equipment. Ground-mounted equipment is only permitted as an accessory use. Equipment shall meet all zoning requirements, including setback and lot coverage requirements, clearance zones, and screening. Ground-mounted solar is permitted as solar canopies over parking areas or seating areas.
• Additional aesthetic requirements for all districts include concealing frames, flashing and other elements of construction, required to be in working order, minimize gaps within panels and does not permit white or grey grid lines.
• Installation of solar energy equipment requires permits through the City of Dublin Building Division.