Solar & Battery Regulation & Incentive Programs

Local Option - Building Permit Fee Waivers for Renewable Energy Projects

Program Overview

Category:: Regulatory Policy
Program Type:: Solar/Wind Permitting Standards
Implementing Sector:: State
State:: Connecticut
Eligible Storage Technologies:: Solar Photovoltaics, Wind (All), Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Non-Renewable Fuels, Landfill Gas, Tidal, Wave, Ocean Thermal, Wind (Small), Hydroelectric (Small), Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
Applicable Sectors:: Commercial, Construction, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Residential, Schools, State Government, Federal Government, Installers/Contractors, Tribal Government, Agricultural, Multifamily Residential, Institutional
Last Updated:: 06/17/2015

Summary

As of July 2011, Connecticut authorizes municipalities to pass a local ordinance to exempt "Class I" renewable energy projects from paying building permit fees. Class I renewable energy projects include energy derived from solar power, wind power, fuel cells (using renewable or non-renewable fuels), methane gas from landfills, ocean thermal power, wave or tidal power, low-emission advanced renewable energy conversion technologies, certain newer run-of-the-river hydropower facilities not exceeding five megawatts (MW) in capacity, and sustainable biomass facilities. (Emissions limits apply to electricity generated by sustainable biomass facilities.)

Public Act 15-194 effective October 1st 2015, requires each municipality to incorporate residential solar photovoltaic systems on its building permit application process. The municipalities are allowed to waive the permit application fee for such systems.

Authorities

Name	Enacted Date	Effective Date	Expired Date
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-263	07/01/2011	07/01/2011
Public Act 15-194	06/16/2015	10/01/2015