Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the conditions related to building owner’s income, insurance coverage, and location. These details would need to be clarified from additional sources or amendments.

Building Standards: Solar Panel Requirements

AB-738 allows buildings damaged or destroyed in disaster areas to be rebuilt using the same solar panel rules that were in place when they were originally built, until January 1, 2028.

What This Bill Does

• Allows buildings damaged by disasters to use the same solar panel rules that were in place when they were originally built.
• Prevents new solar panel rules from applying to these rebuilding projects until January 1, 2028.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who need to rebuild homes damaged by disasters in areas where the governor declared a state of emergency.
• Local agencies that check if older solar panel rules are met for rebuilding projects.

Terms To Know

Photovoltaic systems

Solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity.

State of emergency

A situation declared by the governor when there is a disaster or crisis.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill only applies if certain conditions about the building owner’s income, insurance coverage, and location are met.
• It does not apply to all types of buildings or disasters.

Official Summary Text

AB 738, Tangipa.
Energy: building standards: photovoltaic requirements.
Existing law authorizes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to prescribe, by regulation, lighting, insulation, climate control system, and other building design and construction standards that increase efficiency in the use of energy and water for new residential and new nonresidential buildings, and energy and water conservation design standards for new residential and new nonresidential buildings. Pursuant to this authority, the commission has adopted regulations requiring solar-ready buildings and for the installation of photovoltaic systems meeting certain requirements for low-rise residential buildings built on or after January 1, 2020.
This bill would, until January 1,
2028, require residential construction intended to repair, restore, or replace a residential building damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster in an area in which a state of emergency has been proclaimed by the Governor to comply only with the requirements regarding photovoltaic systems pursuant to those regulations, if any, that were in effect at the time the damaged or destroyed building was originally constructed and would prohibit that construction from being required to comply with any additional or conflicting photovoltaic system requirements in effect at the time of repair, restoration, or replacement. The bill would only apply to the construction of a building if certain conditions are met with respect to the building owner’s income and insurance coverage and to
the location and square footage of the construction.
Because a local agency would be required to determine whether any older applicable photovoltaic requirements are met, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF