Height & Setbacks to Encourage Renewables

• Author: Kerrigan Owens
• Pages: 19-22

Part I: Remove Code Barriers 19

HEIG HT & SETB ACKS TO

ENCO URAG E REN EWABL ES

Kerrigan Owens (author)

Jonathan Rosenbloom & Christopher Duerksen (editors)

INTRODUCTION

Height and set back requirements can frust rate the use and installation of

wind and solar power systems in urba n areas. Because solar and wind sy stems

are often instal led on rooftops, they are often considered part of the st ructure

and calculated towards a buildings’ maximum height. As such, developers

building near the ma ximum allowable height may not be permitted to install

rooftop energy systems. If a developer wanted to insta ll a renewable system

on the roof, she would be required to reduce the overall height of the interior

space to make room for the solar or wind system or seek a variance. is

may reduce the square footage or make development more expensive, mak-

ing it more dicult for the developer to meet their nancial expe ctations. To

encourage more developers to incorporate renewable energie s this ordinance

would relax the height and setback requirements in relation to wind and solar

energy systems.1 is ordina nce can be drafted in a way to reduce require-

ments across districts or to create specic exceptions to height or setbacks.

Another tool being used by local governments is the incorporation of

the International Building Code (IBC).2 e IRC is updated every t hree

years and includes the best practice s from around the nation.3 One of the

recent additions to the IRC is the “Solar-Ready Provision” which details how

to expedite and increase smaller scale solar units on homes. Some of these

enhancements include constructing homes with m inimal rooftop equipment,

orienting buildings in a “north-south” fashion and providing a detailed plan

of the roof so that solar installations can conrm that roof will be able to

support the s ystems.4 Severa l local governments have also begun to require

on-site renewable energy capacity prior to issuing a certicate of occupa ncy

(for more information see Zero Net Energy Buildings brief ).5

To further promote renewable energy systems, several local governments

permit solar and wind systems by-right (for more information see the brief

Allow Solar Energy Systems a nd Wind Turbines by-Right). In addition, Ore-

gon has enacted statewide legislation known as the “Oregon Solar Installa-