The purpose and intent of this Chapter is to preserve and protect the public health, safety, comfort, and general welfare without significantly increasing the cost or decreasing the efficiency of a solar energy facility; and to allow for the orderly development of land, protect property values and esthetic conditions within the City. (Ord. 3841, 4-16-2018)

This Chapter applies to all property and lands within the corporate limits of the City. (Ord. 3841, 4-16-2018)

For purposes of this Chapter, the following terms or words used herein shall be interpreted as follows:

   ABANDONMENT: Means to give up, discontinue, and withdraw from any solar energy facility that ceases to produce energy on a continuous basis for three hundred sixty five (365) calendar days shall be considered abandoned.

   FENCE: Means a continuous barrier extending from the surface of the ground to a uniform height of not less than six feet (6') from the ground at any given point, constructed of dirt, wood, stone, steel, or other metal, or any substance of a similar nature and strength.

   GATE: Means a door or other device attached to a fence which, when opened, provides a means of ingress and egress of persons and things for which it was intended, and which, when closed, forms a continuous barrier as a part of the fence to which it is attached.

   IMPROVED AREA: Means the area containing any one or more of the following: solar collectors, solar storage mechanisms, solar panels, electrical inverters, storage buildings, or access roadways.

   RESIDENCE: Means a building used as a dwelling for one or more families or persons.

   ROADWAY: Means any street, roadway, highway, alleyway or thoroughfare which is located within the City.

   SOLAR COLLECTOR: Means:

   A.   An assembly, structure, or design, including passive elements, used for gathering, concentrating, or absorbing direct or indirect solar energy, specially designed for holding a substantial amount of useful thermal energy and to transfer that energy to a gas, solid, or liquid or to use that energy directly; or

   B.   A mechanism that absorbs solar energy and converts it into electricity; or

   C.   A mechanism or process used for gathering solar energy through wind or thermal gradients; or

   D.   A component used to transfer thermal energy to a gas, solid, or liquid, or to convert it into electricity.

   SOLAR ENERGY: Means radiant energy received from the sun at wave lengths suitable for heat transfer, photosynthetic use, or photovoltaic use.

   SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY OR FACILITIES: Means and includes a solar farm, a solar collector, solar storage mechanism, or solar energy system, or facility, or area of land, or a structural rooftop principally used to convert solar energy to electricity, which includes, but is not limited to, the use of one or more solar energy systems; provided, however, a "solar energy facility" shall only include those solar energy facilities that sell electricity to be used off site from where it is collected and converted.

   SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: Means:

   A.   A complete assembly, structure, or design of a solar collector, or a solar storage mechanism, which uses solar energy for generating electricity or for heating or cooling gases, solids, liquids, or other materials;

   B.   The design, materials, or elements of a system and its maintenance, operation, and labor components, and the necessary components, if any, of supplemental conventional energy systems designed or constructed to interface with a solar energy system; and

   C.   Any legal, financial, or institutional orders, certificates, or mechanisms, including easements, leases, and agreements, required to ensure continued access to solar energy, its source, or its use in a solar energy system, and including monitoring and educational elements of a demonstration project.

   SOLAR FARM: Means and includes a solar energy facility.

   SOLAR STORAGE MECHANISM: Means equipment or elements (such as piping and transfer mechanisms, containers, heat exchangers, or controls thereof, and gases, solids, liquids, or combinations thereof) that are utilized for storing solar energy, gathered by a solar collector, for subsequent use. (Ord. 3841, 4-16-2018)

   A.   A solar energy facility may only be located and permitted in an Agricultural-1 (AG-1) District, Agricultural-2 (AG-2) District, Industrial-1 (I-1) District, Industrial-2 (I-2) District, or Industrial-3 (I-3) District, but only when authorized and approved as a special use by the City Council after public hearing and recommendation by the Plan Commission.

   B.   Such special uses as may be permitted in such zoning districts shall be subject to the following requirements, restrictions and conditions:

      1.   Lot Area And Lot Width: Each such special use shall provide a minimum lot area of five (5) acres.

      2.   Yards: All structures to be constructed, altered or moved in the AG-1, AG-2, I-1, I-2 or I-3 Districts shall provide yards of the following minimum depths:

         a.   Front Yard: Fifty feet (50').

         b.   Side Yards: Fifteen feet (15') except where a side yard abuts a residential district, in which case, a side yard of fifty feet (50') shall be provided.

         c.   Rear Yard: Thirty feet (30').

         d.   Corner Lots: Corner lots shall provide the minimum front yard requirements on each street side of the lot.

      3.   Building Height: No building or structure shall exceed fifty feet (50') in height.

      4.   Off-Street Parking And Loading: There shall be provided adequate off-street parking and loading in accordance with the schedules in Chapter 8 of this Title.

      5.   Improved Areas: Improved areas shall be at least one hundred feet (100') from any residence or church, measured from the nearest point of any such residence or church.

      6.   Fencing: Solar energy facilities shall be completely fenced with a gate as defined above and the perimeter fence shall be designed to restrict unauthorized access.

      7.   Signs: An information sign shall be posted and maintained at the entrance(s) and at all four (4) sides of the fencing and each such information sign shall list the name and phone number of the operator.

      8.   Power Lines: On site power lines between solar panels and inverters shall be placed underground.

      9.   Identification And Warning Sign: The manufacturers or installer's identification and appropriate warning sign shall be posted on or near the solar panels in a clearly visible manner.

      10.   Batteries: If the solar energy facility consists of batteries or storage of batteries, adequate design must be provided to ensure all local, State and Federal requirements regulating outdoor battery storage have been met.

      11.   Identification And Warning Sign: The manufacturers or installer's identification and appropriate warning sign shall be posted on or near the solar panels in a clearly visible manner.

      12.   Interference: The operation of a solar energy facility shall not prevent, eliminate, or mitigate any interference with cellular, radio or television signals; and the owner of a solar energy facility shall take such reasonable steps as are necessary to prevent, eliminate, or mitigate any interference with cellular, radio or television signals caused by the solar energy facility.

      13.   Inspection: The Zoning Enforcing Officer and/or his delegate shall be allowed to enter and may enter any property or solar energy facility from time to time for which a special use or building permit has been issued to conduct an inspection to determine whether the terms, requirements, restrictions, and conditions stated in the special use or building permit or in this Chapter have been met.

      14.   Compliance: Each solar energy facility shall comply with all applicable local, State and Federal laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, and requirements.

      15.   Requirements, Restrictions, And Conditions: Any and all other requirements, restrictions, or conditions as the City Council believes necessary or appropriate and directs to further the purposes of such zoning districts and to address any one or more or all of the factors set forth in subsection 10-15-5C of this Chapter.

      16.   Change Of Special Use: No special use shall be changed except by authorization of the City Council after a public hearing and recommendation by the Plan Commission. (Ord. 3841, 4-16-2018)

      17.   Termination Of Special Use: A special use as described herein shall terminate if:

         a.   The solar energy facility is not installed and functioning within seven hundred thirty (730) calendar days from the date the special use permit is issued; or

         b.   The solar energy facility is out of service or otherwise unused or is abandoned for a continuous three hundred sixty five (365) calendar day period.

      18.   Ownership: A special use as described herein shall be limited solely to the sole record title owner(s) and tenant(s) of said property to be granted such special use who exist as of the time of the granting of such special use under this Chapter. As a condition prerequisite for the granting and maintenance of such special use, any operator of any solar energy facility or solar farm who is not the record title owner of said property granted such special use must have at the time of the granting of such special use and maintain thereafter a written lease with such existing owners for said property that is the subject of the special use. Such operator shall provide a copy of such written lease agreement to the City with the application for a special use under this Chapter.

      19.   Property Ownership: A special use as described herein shall also terminate, without further action, immediately upon any of said existing record title owners, and/or tenants, and/or operators leasing or subletting or assigning in whole or in part the special use property to anyone other than to said existing record title owners and/or said existing tenants of the property granted such special use.

A special use as described herein shall also terminate, without further action, immediately upon any future transfer of ownership, in whole or in part, of said property granted such special use to anyone other than to one of the existing record title owners of said property granted such special use or to their respective heirs or testamentary devisees. (Ord. 3869, 10-15-2018)

      20.   Termination: A special use as described herein shall, without further action, immediately terminate: a) upon the exercise of any other use of any kind, nature, or extent whatsoever on the property granted such special use under; or b) upon the exercise of any other use not permitted in such zoning district where the solar energy facility is located; or c) upon the majority affirmative vote of the City Council, exercised in its sole discretion, upon any violation of any one or more of the terms, restrictions, provisions, or conditions of a special use, as described herein.

      21.   Restoration Requirements: The owner of a solar energy facility shall provide the Zoning Enforcing Officer with a written notice of termination of operations or abandonment of the solar energy facility. Within one hundred twenty (120) consecutive calendar days immediately following the City's receipt of such written notice or within one hundred twenty (120) consecutive calendar days immediately following the termination of such special use as stated in this Section, whichever event first occurs, the owner of each such solar energy facility shall:

         a.   Remove all structures, buildings, solar panels, above ground improvements, outdoor storage, fencing, equipment, and roadways; and

         b.   Completely remove all foundations, pads, and underground electrical wires; and

         c.   Remove all hazardous material from the property and dispose of the hazardous material in accordance with all applicable Federal, Illinois, and City laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations; and

         d.   Restoration of all soil and vegetation.

      22.   Decommissioning Plan: Prior to issuance of any special use or building permit for a solar energy facility, a decommission plan document that details the planned shut down or removal of a solar energy facility from operation or usage shall be submitted by the applicant to ensure that the solar energy facilities are properly removed after their useful life or abandonment or after termination of the special use. The decommission plan shall include provisions for the aforesaid restoration requirements and a plan ensuring financial resources will be available to fully decommission and restore the site as required in this Chapter.

The owner of a solar energy facility shall submit an update to this decommissioning plan every three (3) years following issuance of the special use.

The City reserves the right to require additional information or components to the decommissioning plan as the City deems necessary to ensure that an adequate proposal is in place to decommission the solar energy facility in its entirety and that adequate funds are available for such work.

      23.   Bonds: Prior to the issuance of a special use permit, the owner of a solar energy facility shall provide the City with a performance and payment bond with adequate security or surety bond in an amount determined adequate by the City Council to guarantee the performance of the aforesaid restoration requirements and decommissioning plan. (Ord. 3841, 4-16-2018)

   A.   Special use permit applications shall be submitted to the Zoning Enforcing Officer. The application must be on a form approved by the Zoning Enforcing Officer and must be accompanied by one complete set of completed construction plans prepared, signed and sealed by a structural engineer and by an architectural engineer both with a current Illinois license to practice in Illinois and twenty (20) copies of a scaled drawing, other descriptive information sufficient to enable the Plan Commission and City Council to determine whether the requirements of this Chapter will be satisfied, and such other information as may be specified on the application form. The Zoning Enforcing Officer will review the application materials for completeness and may request that the applicant provide additional information. When the Zoning Enforcing Officer determines that the application is complete, the Zoning Enforcing Officer will forward a copy of the application to the City Council and Plan Commission. A copy of the application to the utility company that will be purchasing electricity from the proposed site shall also be provided by the applicant.

   B.   The City Council and Plan Commission will conduct a public hearing on the application within sixty (60) days after the application is determined by the Zoning Enforcing Officer to have been satisfactory completed and submitted and following the statutory minimum 15-day public notice publication in the Breeze- Courier or in a local newspaper published within the City.

   C.   The City Council may grant a special use permit if it determines that the requirements of this Chapter are met and that granting the permit will not unreasonably interfere with the orderly land use and development plans of the City. The City Council and the Plan Commission may consider all relevant factors when it decides to impose additional requirements, restrictions, or conditions in addition to those set forth in Section 10-15-4 of this Chapter, including, but not limited to, the following:

      1.   Proposed ingress and egress.

      2.   Proximity to transmission lines to link the system to the electric power grid.

      3.   Number of solar panels and their location.

      4.   Nature of land use on adjacent and nearby properties.

      5.   Location of other energy systems in the surrounding area.

      6.   Surrounding topography.

      7.   Proximity to residential structures, residential zoning districts, or areas identified for future residential use.

      8.   Design characteristics that may reduce or eliminate visual obtrusiveness.

      9.   Possible adverse effects on animals and wildlife.

      10.   Possible adverse effects of stray voltage, interference with broadcast signals, and noise.

      11.   Impact on the orderly development, property values, and esthetic conditions within the County.

      12.   Map of surface drainage patterns.

      13.   Drainage tile map.

      14.   Compliance with Illinois drainage laws.

      15.   Recommendations of any aggrieved parties that may be affected by the solar energy facility.

      16.   Consideration of any potential damage to any existing field tile with installation of panels or fencing.

      17.   Whether there is a weed control plan for inside and outside of the fenced in property.

      18.   Reasonable evidence of financial ability to construct the solar energy facility as determined by the City Council is a condition precedent to the issuance of any special use or building permit under this Chapter.

      19.   Any and all other factors relevant to the proposed solar energy facility.

   D.   A special use permit approved by the City Council is required for each solar energy facility. The application for a special use permit must be accompanied by the application fee required for each solar energy facility. The application fee is one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each solar energy facility.

   E.   A building permit is required for the installation of each solar energy facility or solar farm. The application for a building permit must be accompanied by the fee required for each solar energy facility or solar farm. The building permit fee for each solar energy facility or solar farm is ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) for up to and including the first two (2) mega watts capacity and one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each mega watt capacity or part thereof that exceeds the first two (2) mega watts capacity.

   F.   Building permit applications shall be submitted to the Zoning Enforcing Officer. The application shall be on a form approved by the Zoning Enforcing Officer from time to time and shall be accompanied by two (2) copies of a drawing that shows the proposed location and distance of the solar energy facility with reference to the property lines of the parcel on which it is located, the location of any residence, business, or public building on an adjacent parcel, the right-of-way of any public road that is within five hundred feet (500'), and such other information as may be specified on the application form. The application shall also be accompanied by completed construction plans for each solar energy facility that are prepared, signed and sealed by a structural engineer and by an architectural engineer both with a current license to practice in Illinois. Special inspections by approved inspection agencies may also be required. The Zoning Enforcing Officer will issue a building permit for a solar energy facility if the application materials show that the proposed location meets the requirements of this Chapter, the special use permit issued by the City, and all other applicable provisions of this Code. If the application is approved, the Zoning Enforcing Officer will return one copy of the drawing with the building permit and retain the other copy with the application. If the application is rejected, the Zoning Enforcing Officer will notify the applicant in writing and provide a written statement of the reason why the application was rejected. The building permit must be conspicuously posted on the premises so as to be visible to the public at all times until construction or installation of the solar energy facility is complete. (Ord. 3841, 4-16-2018)

   G.   Within thirty (30) consecutive calendar days immediately following the completion of construction of the solar energy facility or solar farm, but in any event prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy by the Zoning Enforcing Officer, the owners, tenants, and developer/operator thereof who are granted such special use shall provide to the Zoning Enforcing Officer a complete paper copy set and a complete digital set on a flash drive of "as built" plans and specifications for the solar energy facility or solar farm. (Ord. 3869, 10-15-2018)

   A.   It is unlawful for any owner, tenant, or any operator, person or entity of any kind, nature or extent whatsoever to construct, install, maintain, modify, or operate a solar energy system that is not in compliance with any one or more of the terms, provisions, requirements, restrictions, or conditions as stated in this Chapter or with any one or more of the terms, provisions, requirements, restrictions, or conditions contained in a special use or building permit issued pursuant to this Chapter.

   B.   The City may revoke the special use and/or building permit if the solar energy facility and/or solar farm is/are operated or maintain in violation of any one or more of the terms, provisions, requirements, restrictions, or conditions as stated in this Chapter or with any one or more of the terms, provisions, requirements, restrictions, or conditions contained in a special use or building permit issued pursuant to this Chapter.

   C.   In addition to, and not in lieu of, any other right or remedy of the City, each owner, tenant, and operator that is granted such special use shall be assessed a fine or penalty in an amount of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) for each violation of any one or more terms, provisions, requirements, restrictions or conditions of such special use or for failure to comply with any provision of this Chapter. Each day upon which a violation occurs or continues shall be deemed to be a separate offense. A violation hereof may be established by a preponderance of the evidence. (Ord. 3869, 10-15-2018)

The purpose and intent of this Chapter 15A is to preserve and protect the public health, safety, comfort, and general welfare without significantly increasing the cost or decreasing the efficiency of a solar energy system; and to allow for the orderly development of land, protect property values and esthetic conditions with the City. (Ord. 4128, 10-3-2022)

For purposes of this Chapter, the following terms or words used herein shall be interpreted as follows:

BUILDING INTEGRATED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: A building mounted solar energy system that is an integral part of a principal or accessory building, rather than a separate mechanical device, replacing or substituting for an architectural or structural part of the building. Building Integrated Solar Energy Systems include, but are not limited to,

Photovoltaic Cell or hot water systems that are contained within roofing materials, skylights, shading devices and similar architectural components.

BUILDING MOUNTED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: A solar energy system, in which all parts, are professionally mounted on the roof of a principal building or accessory structure. A Building Mounted Solar Energy System includes Building Integrated Solar Energy Systems, Flush Mounted Solar Energy Systems and Non-Flush Mounted Solar Energy Systems.

CITY: The City of Taylorville, Illinois, a municipal corporation.

CITY CODE: The Taylorville City Code.

CITY COUNCIL: The Alderpersons and Mayor of the City.

CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT: The fire department of the City of Taylorville, Illinois, a municipal corporation.

FLUSH MOUNTED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: A Building Mounted Solar Energy System that is mounted to a finished roof surface where the solar collector, once installed, projects no further than six (6) inches in height beyond the roof surface.

GROUND MOUNTED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: A free-standing solar energy system that is placed, affixed, or mounted to the ground.

NON-FLUSH MOUNTED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: A Building Mounted Solar Energy System that is mounted to a finished roof surface where the solar collector, once installed, projects more than six (6) inches in height beyond the roof surface

PERSON: Any individual, public or private corporation, firm, company, limited liability company, partnership, co-partnership, limited liability partnership, association, organization, joint stock company, trust, estate, government entity or political subdivision thereof, or any other legal entity, or their legal representatives, agents, successors, or assigns, or any other group acting as a unit.

SELF-CONTAINED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: A professionally manufactured device that utilizes Solar Collector(s) to produce small amounts of power that are generated exclusively for the device. A Self-Contained Solar Energy System is typically located in areas that are not in close proximity to a utility power source. Examples of these types of Self-Contained Solar Energy Systems include but are not limited to: light poles in parks for security or safety reasons, pedestrian street crossing signs that alert oncoming traffic of the crossing, natural resource observation systems (such as tracking flood level depths), pumps that aerate an isolated pond, and attic fans mounted on a roof that are used for ventilation purposes.

SOLAR COLLECTOR SURFACE: Any part of a solar collector that absorbs solar energy for use in the solar collector’s energy transformation process. A solar collector surface does not include frames, supports and mounting hardware.

SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: A professionally manufactured system accessory to the principal use that utilizes solar collectors to

convert solar energy from the sun into thermal, mechanical or electrical energy for storage and use and is intended to primarily reduce on-site consumption of utility power; provided, however, energy produced in excess of on-site consumption may be sold back to the electric utility service provider that serves the proposed site for use with the existing energy grid. Otherwise, for purposes of this Chapter 15A, a solar energy system shall not include a “solar energy facility” as defined in Section 10-15-3 of the City Code and which is primarily used to produce energy (electricity) to be sold commercially and to be used off site from where it is collected and converted. Such solar energy facilities are governed and regulated by Chapter 15 of Title 10 of the City Code; and does not include solar energy system authorized by the City Council for public utility and/or public infrastructure purposes. (Ord. 4128, 10-3-2022)

   A.   Solar Energy Systems may be erected, constructed, or installed or used on properties within the corporate limits of the City only in accordance with and subject to the restrictions, limitations, conditions, and regulations under this Chapter 15A.

   B.   Solar Energy Systems shall only be permitted if accessory to a principal building and/or principal use.

   C.   Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter 15A to the contrary, the erection, construction, installation, or use of Ground Mounted Solar Energy Systems in a R-1 (Residential) District or in a R-2 (Residential) District is subject to the approval or disapproval of the City Council by a majority affirmative vote.

   D.   Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter 15A to the contrary, no solar energy system shall be erected, constructed, installed, used, or permitted on any vacant property located in a in a R-1 (Residential) District or in a R-2 (Residential) District without any residential building located thereon.

   E.   Any person seeking to erect, construct, or install or use a Solar Energy System on property located within the corporate limits of the City shall obtain a Building Permit from the City and a Photovoltaic System Permit from the City’s Fire Department prior to the erection, construction, or installation or use of any Solar Energy System. As part of the application for said Permits, the following fee, information, and documents shall be provided to the City:

      1.   A non-refundable fee of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) shall be paid to the City.

      2.   The name, address, and telephone number of the person erecting, constructing, or installing the Solar Energy System.

      3.   A description of the proposed Solar Energy System that includes all of the following items and information:

         a.   All plans, dimensions, and specifications showing the proposed location of the proposed Solar Energy System, which plans, dimensions, and specifications shall be prepared by and include the signature of a state licensed professional engineer.

         b.   Evidence showing compliance with all applicable zoning setback requirements.

         c.   Evidence showing compliance with applicable setback and/or height regulations.

         d.   The distance to any roads or overhead utility lines.

         e.   Evidence of compliance with each regulation contained in this Chapter 15A.

      4.   Utility Notification: No grid-tied or utility intertie photovoltaic (PV) system shall be erected, constructed or installed or used until evidence has been given to the City’s Health and Building Officer that the person seeking to erect, construct, or install or use a Solar Energy System has submitted notification to the utility company of their intent to install an interconnected customer-owned generator. Off-grid solar energy systems are exempt from this requirement.

      5.   The City Fire Department shall review said application for a Building Permit to verify that adequate roof access will be allowed for emergency personnel in the case of an emergency and/or to determine any safety concerns concerning the placement of Solar Energy Systems; and no Solar Energy System shall be erected, constructed, or installed or used until and unless the City Fire Department approves of such Solar Energy System and the proposed placement thereof and has issued its Photovoltaic System Permit.

      6.   Solar Energy Systems shall be installed according to manufacturer specifications and in accordance with this Chapter 15A and with all applicable City building codes, electrical codes, fire codes, and with all other applicable City, State of Illinois, and federal codes, ordinances, laws, statutes, and regulations, as amended from time to time, concerning the use and operation of Solar Energy Systems.

      7.   Solar Energy System with electric components must have a UL listing.

      8.   All Solar Energy Systems shall have a lockable, utility accessible, load breaking, manual disconnect switch, which can be utilized to connect and/or disconnect all electric Solar Energy System components. The manual disconnect switch shall be located not more than four (4) feet from the building’s electric service meter. The manual disconnect switch shall not be obstructed from access in any manner, including, but not limited to, landscaping, shrubs, trees, terraces, fencing, etc.

      9.   All Solar Energy Systems shall have the following caution labels installed and/or placed on the Solar Energy System:

         a.   A “Caution Solar Electric System” label shall be installed and/or placed adjacent to the manual disconnect switch.

         b.   “Caution Solar Circuit” directional labels shall be placed on any and all DC raceways and equipment and shall depict the direction of the electrical flow inside said raceway and/or other equipment. Said “Caution Solar Circuit” directional labels shall be located and spaced out not more than every ten (10) feet along said raceway.

         c.   All caution labels shall be weather resistant and reflective, with a red background and white lettering with a minimum of 3/8 inch lettering.

      10.   Building Integrated Solar Energy Systems and/or Flush Mounted Solar Energy Systems are permitted to be installed on any roof area.

      11.   Non-Flush Mounted Solar Energy Systems are permitted on a building with a flat roof if the solar collector(s) is/are completely screened from view to an observer five (5) feet above the ground at any point along an abutting property line.

      12.   The solar collector surface area and set back area on the roof for Building Mounted Solar Energy Systems shall be provided and shown on the application with review and approval by the City Fire Department.

      13.   The solar collector surface area of Building Mounted Solar Energy Systems shall not exceed more than 60% of the roof area of the principal building on the property.

      14.   Reflection angles from solar collector surfaces shall be oriented away from neighboring windows.

      15.   Ground Mounted Solar Energy Systems shall be permitted only as an accessory use on property that is zoned and located in one of the following zoning districts: AG-1 (Agricultural) District, AG-2 (Agricultural) District, C-1 (Commercial) District, C-2 (Commercial) District, I-1 (Industrial) District, or I-2 (Industrial) District, or I-3 (Industrial) District.

      16.   Ground Mounted Solar Energy Systems may be permitted only as an accessory use on property that is zoned and located in a R-1 (Residential) District or in a R-2 (Residential) District, but only with approval by majority vote of the City Council.

      17.   Ground Mounted Solar Energy Systems shall not be placed in any front yard or within the side and/or rear yard setbacks; and fencing shall be installed around the perimeter of Ground Mounted Solar Energy Systems. Such fencing shall obscure the view of the Ground Mounted Solar Energy Systems from neighboring properties and from the public view of vehicles passing by the property where the Ground Mounted Solar Energy Systems are located.

      18.   Maximum Permitted Height & Building Projection/Extension:

         a.   The Solar Energy System shall conform to the height regulations of the zoning district in which the property where the Solar Energy System is to be erected, constructed, installed, or mounted is located.

         b.   Non-Flush Mounted Solar Energy Systems shall not extend above the highest point on the roof line or a parapet wall.

         c.   Solar Energy Systems shall not project/extend beyond the exterior wall of any building on which said Small Solar Energy System has been installed, mounted, or built.

      19.   An Illinois electrician must install and connect all electrical components of Solar Energy Systems that are erected, constructed, or installed; and all such electrical work shall be done in compliance with applicable rules, regulations, requirements, codes, and standards as set forth in the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC) and/or NFPA 70 (part of the National Fire Code as published by the National Fire Protection Association, a private trade association), or the subsequent current edition in existence at the time of such electrical work. (Ord. 4128, 10-3-2022)

A Self-Contained Solar Energy System shall be limited to an aggregate Solar Collector Surface area of less than or equal to 6 square feet. Otherwise, the provisions of this Chapter 15A shall not apply to a Self-Contained Solar Energy System. (Ord. 4128, 10-3-2022)

In addition to and not in lieu of any other remedy available to the City, any person violating any of the provisions of this Chapter 15A shall, for each offense, be fined and punished as provided in Section 1-4-1 of the City Code for each separate offense. Each day upon which a violation occurs or continues shall be deemed a separate offense. (Ord. 4128, 10-3-2022)