Provide property owners and business owners/operators with flexibility in satisfying their on-site energy needs.

Reduce overall energy demands within the community and to promote energy efficiency.

Integrate alternative energy systems seamlessly into the community's neighborhoods and landscapes without diminishing quality of life in the neighborhoods.

This article applies to building-mounted and ground-mounted systems installed and constructed after the effective date of this chapter.

Solar PV systems constructed prior to the effective date of this chapter are not required to meet the requirements of this article.

Any upgrade, modification or structural change that materially alters the size or placement of an existing solar PV system shall comply with the provisions of this article.

Building-mounted and ground-mounted systems are permitted in all zoning districts as an accessory use to any lawfully permitted principal use or accessory use on the same lot or parcel upon issuance of the proper permit pursuant to and upon compliance with all requirements of this article and as elsewhere specified in this chapter.

Building-integrated systems, as defined by this chapter, are not considered an accessory use and are not subject to the requirements of this article.

Building-mounted systems are permitted to face any rear, side and front yard or an unregulated yard area as defined by this chapter. Building-mounted systems may only be mounted on lawfully permitted principal or accessory structures.

Ground-mounted systems are permitted based on the requirements for accessory uses or structures in the property's zoning district.

The solar PV system must be constructed to comply with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC), Act 45 of 1999,[1] as amended, and any regulations adopted by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry as they relate to the UCC, except where an applicable industry standard has been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry under its regulatory authority.

All wiring must comply with the National Electrical Code, most recent edition, as amended and adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The solar PV system must be constructed to comply with the most recent fire code as amended and adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Notwithstanding the height limitations of the zoning district:

Notwithstanding the height limitations of the zoning district:

Ground-mounted systems may not exceed the permitted height of accessory structures in the zoning district where a solar PV system is to be installed.

Any solar installation approved after the date of this chapter and that exceeds the maximum building height of the zoning district shall not constitute nonconformity so long as it complies with other provisions of this chapter.

Building-mounted systems on a sloped roof shall not be required to be screened.

Building-mounted systems mounted on a flat roof shall not be visible from the public right-of-way within a fifty-foot radius of the property, exclusive of an alley as defined by this chapter, at a level of five feet from the ground in a similar manner as to any other rooftop HVAC or mechanical equipment. This can be accomplished with architectural screening such as a building parapet or by setting the system back from the roof edge in such a manner that the solar PV system is not visible form the public right-of-way within a fifty-foot radius at a level of five feet from the ground.

Building-mounted systems:

Ground-mounted systems. If a ground-mounted system is to be installed on a lot that is a nonconforming because the required minimum setbacks are exceeded, the proposed system may be granted an administrative approval by the Zoning Officer so long as the proposed installation does not increase the setback nonconformance of the lot. If a ground-mounted system is to be installed on a lot that is nonconforming because it violates any other district requirements not mentioned herein, a variance must be obtained for the proposed installation.

Discontinuation and/or abandonment is presumed when a solar PV system has been disconnected from the net metering grid for a period of six continuous months without being connected to a battery system or has not produced electricity for a period of six months. The burden of proof in the presumption of discontinuation/abandonment shall be upon the municipality.

A solar PV system, including its solar PV-related equipment, must be removed within 12 months of the date of discontinuation and/or abandonment or upon termination of the useful life of the solar PV system.

For ground-mounted and building-mounted systems, removal includes removal of all structural and electrical parts of the ground- or building-mounted system and any associated facilities or equipment and removal of all net metering equipment.

If an owner fails to remove or repair the vacated, abandoned or decommissioned solar PV system within six months, the Borough reserves the right to enter the property, remove the system and charge the landowner and/or facility owner and operator for all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, or pursue other legal action to have the system removed at the owner's expense.

Any unpaid costs resulting from the Borough's removal of a vacated, abandoned or decommissioned solar PV system shall constitute a lien upon the lot against which the costs were charged. Each such lien may be continued, recorded and released in the manner provided by the general statues for continuing, recording and releasing the property tax liens.