Farmers Branch sustainability committee backs solar-ready building code for new construction

The Farmers Branch Sustainability Committee voted to recommend that the city adopt a solar‑ready building-code appendix for new construction that eases future solar installations without mandating rooftop solar.

Staff told the committee the proposed appendix (based on model code language) requires continuous unobstructed roof space (approximately 300 square feet on residential buildings) and adequate electrical-panel capacity so buildings can accommodate solar in the future. Staff said the draft does not require solar installation at the time of construction and includes exemptions for properties with shading or other site limitations. After feedback from local builders, staff removed some model-code elements — notably roof-penetration sleeves and a professional-engineer load-documentation requirement — to lower up-front builder cost while preserving the 'solar ready' objective.

Committee members asked whether battery-storage identification was included; staff said commercial plans include an identification requirement for battery-storage locations, but the residential appendix does not require batteries. After discussion, the committee moved, seconded and approved the recommendation by voice vote; staff will present the package to City Council in a study session on June 6.

Why it matters: the recommendation aims to reduce barriers and costs to future rooftop solar adoption by ensuring newly built homes and buildings have the physical and electrical capacity to accept solar more easily.

What the committee heard: staff said citywide electricity use was described in their analysis (staff cited an aggregate community-level consumption figure during the presentation) and emphasized solar-panel cost declines and programmatic supports (including the city’s Solar Switch program) that help owners adopt solar.

Next steps: staff will present the committee recommendation to City Council at the June study session and report back with council direction.

Representative quote: staff said the solar-ready requirement “does not mandate solar be installed during new construction… it mainly just means that there's a certain amount of continuous roof space that's not interrupted by roof equipment.”

Ending: The committee approved the recommendation and forwarded it for council review; any ordinance changes require subsequent council action to become law.