Board Tables Proposed Residential Ground‑Mount Solar Fee Increase, Directs Staff to Return with Fee Study

County planning, building and fire staff briefed the board Sept. 15 on a proposed resolution to reinstate fees for residential ground‑mount solar permits intended to recover direct costs from multiple departments. Staff cautioned the state caps bundled solar permitting fees at $450 and that additional department reviews (planning, fire, environmental health) could push total local fees above that cap unless justified.

Public commenters and a contractor's spouse presented research showing other counties generally charge the capped $450 or less and urged the board to delay the item for more analysis. One commenter said the proposed fees would increase a ground‑mount permit cost from around $450 to more than $725 in Tehama County and cited statutory and code considerations (AB1124 was mentioned during testimony).

Staff and the county administrator said they want to reconcile internal fee spreadsheets and the county's master fee study (underway with consultant Matrix) before adopting a final schedule. On a motion to table the item until after Oct. 1 and to return with clearer fee comparisons, the board voted to continue the matter; staff agreed to bring back a revised ordinance and the fee analysis connection to the pending master fee study.

The board emphasized it expects work to identify whether process changes (virtual inspections, streamlining plan review) could bring fee outcomes closer to the $450 expectation and to show a departmental breakdown of current vs. proposed fees.