Residential Solar Permit Reporting Program – SB 379

• California Energy Commission’s Data Submission Portal
  • Data Submission Portal Help Video for Account Registration and Submission
  • Data Submission Portal User Guide for Account Registration and Reporting Requirements
• SB 379 Solar Permit Annual Reports

• Residential Solar Permitting Program Dashboard

• Senate Bill 379 (Wiener, 2022) requires most California cities and counties to implement an online, automated permitting platform that verifies code compliance and issues permits in real time or allows the city, county, or city and county to issue permits in real time for a residential solar energy system, as defined, that is no larger than 38.4 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating and a residential energy storage system, as defined, paired with a residential solar energy system that is no larger than 38.4 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating
   
• A city with a population of fewer than 5,000 and a county with a population of fewer than 150,000, including each city within that county, is exempt.
   
• A city with a population of 50,000 or fewer that is not exempt shall satisfy the requirements by September 30, 2024.
   
• A city, county, or city and county with a population of greater than 50,000 that is not exempt shall satisfy the requirements by September 30, 2023.
   
• Full text of Senate Bill 379 (Wiener, 2022).

Residential Solar Permit Reporting – Senate Bill 379 - Guidelines

• These guidelines were adopted by the Energy Commission at a publicly-noticed business meeting on April 12, 2023.

• As defined in SB 379, a city, county, or city and county shall report to the Energy Commission when it is in compliance with this legislation. Additionally, a city, county, or city and county shall report annually to the Energy Commission within one year of implementing an online, automated solar permitting system. This annual reporting requirement shall become inoperative on June 30, 2034.
   
• Required reporting fields are detailed in the Residential Solar Permit Reporting – SB 379 Guidelines and are summarized below:
  • Name of reporting party (city, county, or city and county) 
  • Reporting year (date range if partial calendar year)
  • Latest estimated population of reporting entity
  • Total number of permits issued for all residential solar energy systems
    • Subset of total permits issued for residential solar energy systems through an online, automated permitting platform that complies with SB 379. 
  • Total number of permits issued for all residential energy storage systems paired with residential solar energy systems 
    • Subset of total permits issued for residential energy storage systems paired with residential solar energy systems through an online, automated permitting platform that complies with SB 379. 

The data submission portal will also collect the name and contact information of the authorized representative for verification or in case follow-up is needed.

Q. What software platforms are other jurisdictions using to comply with SB 379?

• A: The most common software observed in use is SolarAPP+, Symbium, or custom in-house solutions.

Q. I have questions about SolarAPP+ or Symbium. Who do I talk to?

• A: For SolarAPP+, please review their FAQ page or send an email to their team. For Symbium, please review their SB 379 information page or reach out through their contact form.

Q. If we have our own automated permitting platform, what does it need to do to comply with SB 379?

• A. For any jurisdictions that already has a system in place, you will need to determine whether it meets the requirements defined in the text of SB 379. As written in the bill, you should have an online, automated permitting platform that verifies code compliance and allow the city or county to issue permits in real time. The bill references SolarAPP+ and identifies other requirements that use SolarAPP+ capabilities as a standard.  If you believe your system meets all of the requirements in SB 379, you may proceed with submitting data annually as described in our guidelines.

Q. How do we determine if we are exempt from these requirements?

• A: SB 379 establishes exemptions based on population.  A city with a population of fewer than 5,000, and a county with a population of fewer than 150,000 (including the population of each city within that county) is exempt from the requirements of SB 379.  Population is determined by the latest estimates provided by the State of California Department of Finance.  Population estimates can be accessed here.

Q: What happens if a jurisdiction’s population falls in the exemption category but eventually increases beyond that threshold? Do they need to begin submitting annual reports?

• A: A jurisdiction would need to start reporting if they can no longer be considered exempt as described in SB 379. The Residential Soler Permit Reporting Guidelines state that “[n]onexempt cities, counties, and cities and counties shall submit annual reports to the CEC within one year of implementation.” This language indicates that each city may be on a different timeline for when they will first develop and implement their system. A city with a population of fewer than 5,000, and a county with a population of fewer than 150,000 (including the population of each city within that county) is exempt from the requirements of SB 379.

Q. Is financial assistance available to help our jurisdiction comply with SB 379

• A. Yes, the California Automated Permit Processing (CalAPP) Program is a grant program for cities and counties to receive assistance implementing an online, automated permitting platform. A first come, first served, grant funding opportunity was developed and released prior to the passage of this legislation, and applications are accepted until May 1, 2024, or until funding is exhausted. More information about CalAPP.

Q. I missed the public workshop held on December 8, 2022. Where can I find out more information?

• A. A recording and a copy of the presentation slides can be accessed from our docket log here, and staff responses to all questions received at the workshop can be found on the workshop event page.

The California Automated Permit Processing (CalAPP) Program is a grant program for cities and counties to receive assistance implementing an online, automated permitting platform. A grant funding opportunity was developed and released prior to the passage of this legislation, and applications are accepted until May 1, 2024. More information about CalAPP