Solar Panels on poss. unpermitted structure question

[fried1765]

So, I have been looking into the idea of getting solar panels installed. My biggest concern is that inspectors need to come out for permits and final inspection process from what I gather.

While the house and 1 possibly 2 outbuildings are actually permitted, the section of roofing that we would want to use because it is the biggest and most open has been an unpermitted add on. So to give a little more info, the barn is a permitted building on the property. About 18' east of the barn is another building "The shop". The shop I believe is permitted as well but not 100%. So the previous owner (my wifes gdpa, still lives with us but we own the property now) had built many add-ons to these 2 buildings with the last add-on actually connecting the 2 so that we now have a nice covered area to get from the driveway to part of the back pasture area. These add-ons were done over the span of about 40 years.

The most recent add-on we did has the best spot for the panels in my opinion and also the most space. Is there any reason to be concerned over the town coming out to do the permit or final inspection? Has anyone had any experience with in this particular situation? I know different areas will have different rules and what not so I am hoping when the solar guy comes out to answer our questions that he will have the info to give me. Is there any specific questions I should key in on while that guy is here as well? I don't know much about solar and I already have a huge list to ask but it wont hurt to ask a lot of questions either as its a lot of money being spent..

As my now 53 year old son once pointed out:
"It is better to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission"

 

[Jstpssng]

I wonder if the fact that you acquired the property “in your own name” last year (I assume a transfer of deed?) gets you in the clear when it comes to un-permitted buildings?
You’re not responsible for the “previous owners” .

Yes you are, if the CEO and/or town want to be D***heads.

As my now 53 year old son once pointed out:
"It is better to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission"

That can get expensive. Back when I was doing mortgage loan inspections somebody down in Portland ME had a new million dollar home built without bothering to check the setbacks. When the final inspection was done for the loan the house was found to be 11 inches too close to the property line. They filed for a variance but one of the abutters wouldn't sign off on it; so they had to move the building.

 

[fried1765]

Yes you are, if the CEO and/or town want to be D***heads.



That can get expensive. Back when I was doing mortgage loan inspections somebody down in Portland ME had a new million dollar home built without bothering to check the setbacks. When the final inspection was done for the loan the house was found to be 11 inches too close to the property line. They filed for a variance but one of the abutters wouldn't sign off on it; so they had to move the building.

11' ...sure.
11" ....Now....THAT is the definition of a true PRICK!
Abutter musta been a Masshole who moved to Maine !

 

[oosik]

If your county in NY is anything like the county I live in here in WA - they are totally aware of all the structures on your property. Here they establish a base line of all structures on my property via aerial photography. If they see a change, on subsequent aerial photos - I will get a visit from the county assessors office.

How do the assessors know if a change has been made inside a structure? I have no idea. There never once has ever been any type of inspector inside my house. Not in the 38 years I've been here. They did their evaluation based upon the original house plans I submitted for the original construction.

 

[oosik]

Within a 100 mile radius of my house there are many private homes with solar panels. VERY few are on the roof of a structure. They sit in a frame work on the ground. Some are quite large - 8' high by 50' or 60' wide. I'm sure a couple of the advantages are maintenance & access.

 

[NorTracNY]

I'm East of you and put up panels several years ago. Be sure to ask the solar person for both buy and up front payment for a lease. In some cases a lease is MUCH better, but I was told that it depended on the numbers. A lease will give you guarantees to performance over the next 20 years and you'll receive a check if it doesn't meet the yearly minimum.

As for the town, it really just depends. Many towns won't do anything unless someone complains about something. Are these connections, just a roof or is it walls and flooring too? In NYS, you cannot be assessed on the panels, but in your case, the town might try to reassess you if they bring up the roof. For the inspection, it will be the town's electrical inspector and general inspector. I would think it's unlikely that the person would remember if you had some structure there the last time they were out. If it's a new person (in the last 8 years) then I have to believe you're fine. It's not your fault the town forgot to file the permit when you built those connections.

 

[bazman82]

I'm East of you and put up panels several years ago. Be sure to ask the solar person for both buy and up front payment for a lease. In some cases a lease is MUCH better, but I was told that it depended on the numbers. A lease will give you guarantees to performance over the next 20 years and you'll receive a check if it doesn't meet the yearly minimum.

As for the town, it really just depends. Many towns won't do anything unless someone complains about something. Are these connections, just a roof or is it walls and flooring too? In NYS, you cannot be assessed on the panels, but in your case, the town might try to reassess you if they bring up the roof. For the inspection, it will be the town's electrical inspector and general inspector. I would think it's unlikely that the person would remember if you had some structure there the last time they were out. If it's a new person (in the last 8 years) then I have to believe you're fine. It's not your fault the town forgot to file the permit when you built those connections.

I'll have to ask about the lease part. Havent heard about that or even knew it was a thing to do with solar. The connections are roof, walls and flooring. Initially it was 2 separate buildings and a roof was put connecting the 2 with both ends open to the outside where that roof is. It is the one way to get to the back pastures. No doors or anything and the openings are about 15' x 15'

 

[bazman82]

So...here is a picture. I circled the permitted buildings in yellow and the stuff that has been added on over 40 years in red. Just to give a little aerial visual and the spot I would prefer to put the panels.

 

[jwstewar]

I'm enjoying these solar threads. Guess I hadn't paid attention to them before. We signed in December to have solar installed - that way we got the 30% tax credit. Going through the electric company now for the permitting process. Expecting to install late February/early March. We are doing a 53 panel 16.9 KW system. While we are doing it, we are doing a back-up generator. It will probably be a 16kw Generac.

 

[bazman82]

I'm enjoying these solar threads. Guess I hadn't paid attention to them before. We signed in December to have solar installed - that way we got the 30% tax credit. Going through the electric company now for the permitting process. Expecting to install late February/early March. We are doing a 53 panel 16.9 KW system. While we are doing it, we are doing a back-up generator. It will probably be a 16kw Generac.

Sounds similar to the quote i just got today minus the generac. We got a quote for a 45 panel 17kw system. 48k for the system before any incentives, rebates and grants. 24k after all those are applied. Not sure we are going to go through with it or not but I do have another company coming out later in the week for a second quote. Will see what they say.