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MEMORANDUM
To: Historic Resource Commission Date: January 24, 2019
From: Pedro Gomez, Assistant Planner I
Subject:
SOLAR PANELS INSTALLATION ON HISTORIC PROPERTIES
In the last few months, staff has received various inquiries from property owners wishing to
install residential solar energy systems on properties that are listed on the Santa Ana Register
of Historic Properties (“Register”). The California Solar Rights Act prohibits unreasonable
restrictions placed on these systems and prohibits local governments from restricting them
based on aesthetics. Additionally, the act limits our review to public health and safety related
issues and requires a non‐discretionary review process.
Although the review of these systems is limited, the installation of solar energy systems on
historic properties should be in conformance with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for
the Treatment of Historic Properties (“Secretary of Interior Standards”). Generally, solar
panels installed in a location that cannot be seen from the public right-of-way or primary
elevation will meet the Secretary of Interior Standards. To assist property owners, staff has
created the attached handout which provides design guidelines for the installation of solar
panels on historic properties. The handout will be made available on the City’s website and as
part of future educational outreach material to all historic property owners.
Attachment: Solar Panel Installation on Historic Properties
S:\HRC\clerical - counter forms\SolarPanels_Historic.doc
www.santa-ana.org
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The installation of solar panels on properties that are listed on the Santa Ana Register of Historic
Properties (“Register”) should be in conformance with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the
Treatment of Historic Properties (“Secretary of Interior Standards”). The following are design guidelines
for installing solar panels on residential properties that are listed on the Santa Ana Register of Historic
Properties. A listing of eligible Santa Ana properties may be found on the Cit y’s Historic Preservation
webpage http://www.ci.santa-ana.ca.us/pba/planning/HistoricPreservation.asp
SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION
Solar panels installed on a historic property in a location that cannot be seen from the public right-of-way
or primary elevation will generally meet the Secretary of Interior Standards. Conversely, an installation
that negatively impacts the historic character of a property will not meet the Stand ards. The following are
examples of locations that are least visible from the street:
a. Rooftops of detached garages or rear-facing roofs of primary residences have been identified as
the most appropriate locations for solar panels.
b. On flat roofs with parapet walls, solar panels installed on the full extent of the roof, provided that
the panels are not visible above the parapet walls.
c. On sloped roofs, solar panels installed on the rear 50 percent of the roof of the primary building.
Example # 1 – Craftsman Bungalow
SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION
ON HISTORIC PROPERTIES
Planning and Building Agency
Planning Division
20 Civic Center Plaza
P.O. Box 1988 (M-20)
Santa Ana, CA 92702
(714) 647-5804
www.santa-ana.org
SAMPLE ONLY
A A
C
C
Primary Residence
Detached Garage
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Example # 2 – Spanish Colonial Revival
In the examples below, solar panels would be installed on a flat roof, behind the existing parapet wall and
not visible from the public right-of-way or primary elevation.
B
B Parapet Wall Parapet Wall
Parapet Wall
Parapet Wall
SAMPLE ONLY
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