Hapeville City Zoning Code

The footprint of a ground mounted SES is calculated by drawing a perimeter around the outermost SES panels and any equipment necessary for the functioning of the SES, such as transformers and inverters. The footprint does not include any visual buffer or perimeter fencing. Transmission lines (or portions thereof) required to connect the SES to a utility or consumer outside the SES perimeter shall not be included in calculating the footprint.

Ground mounted SESs shall be delineated by size as follows:

(1)

Small scale ground mounted solar energy system (small scale SES) means a ground mounted SES with a footprint of less than one acre.

(2)

Intermediate scale ground mounted solar energy system (intermediate scale SES) means a ground mounted SES with a footprint of between one and 15 acres.

(3)

Large scale ground mounted solar energy system (large scale SES) means a ground mounted SES with a footprint of more than 15 acres.

Ground mounted solar energy system means an SES that is structurally mounted to the ground and does not qualify as an integrated SES or rooftop SES. For purposes of this chapter, any solar canopy that does not qualify as an integrated SES shall be considered a ground mounted SES, regardless of where it is mounted.

Integrated solar energy system means an SES where solar materials are incorporated into building materials, such that the two are reasonably indistinguishable, or where solar materials are used in place of traditional building components, such that the SES is structurally an integral part of a house, building, or other structure. An integrated SES may be incorporated into, among other things, a building facade, skylight, shingles, canopy, light, or parking meter.

Rooftop solar energy system means an SES that is structurally mounted to the roof of a house, building, or other structure and does not qualify as an integrated SES.

Solar energy system (SES) means any device or structural design feature that provides for the collection of solar energy for electricity generation, consumption, or transmission, or for thermal applications.

For the purposes of this article, SES refers only to:

(1)

Photovoltaic SESs that convert solar energy directly into electricity through a semiconductor device; or

(2)

Solar thermal systems that use collectors to convert the sun's rays into useful forms of energy for water heating, space heating, or space cooling.

SES as used here excludes concentrated solar power, which uses mirrors to focus the energy from the sun to produce electricity.

(Ord. No. 2020-23, § 1, 9-15-2020)