§ 7D5-7. Expedited permitting process and permit review.

A.

The applicant may submit the permit application and supporting documents to the permit and resource management department by electronic submittal. In the case of electronic submittal, the electronic signature of the applicant on all forms, applications, and other documents may be used in lieu of a wet signature. If at the time of a permit application, the county's supporting technology does not facilitate electronic signatures, the county, at its discretion, may authorize the acceptance of either electronic signature or wet signature.

B.

An application and supporting documents that satisfy the information requirements in the checklist, as determined by the building official, shall be deemed complete. Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the building official shall issue a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information that is required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.

C.

Upon confirmation by the building official that the application is complete and meets the requirements of the checklist, and is consistent with this chapter, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations. The building official may establish a process to prioritize competing applications for expedited permits.

1.

If the county makes a finding, based on substantial evidence, that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific adverse impact upon the public health or safety, the county may require the applicant to apply for a use permit.

2.

The county may withhold issuance of the permit or authorization if there is a violation on record for any structure associated with the application under review.

3.

The county shall not condition approval for any electric vehicle charging station permit on the approval of an electric vehicle charging station by an association, as that term is defined in Civil Code section 4080.

D.

The county shall not deny an application for a use permit to install an electric vehicle charging station unless it makes written findings based upon substantial evidence in the record that the proposed installation would have a specific adverse impact upon the public health or safety, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact. The findings shall include the basis for the rejection of potential feasible alternatives of preventing the adverse impact.

E.

Any conditions imposed on an application to install an electric vehicle charging station shall be designed to mitigate the specific adverse impact upon the public health or safety at the lowest cost possible.

F.

This expedited permitting process is intended to apply only to applications for permits for electric vehicle charging stations, and will not expedite the review of any other permit applications.

G.

The building official's decision pursuant to Sections 7D5-7(C) or (D) may be appealed to the planning commission in accordance with the procedures set forth in Sonoma County Code section 26-92-040, subdivision (b). The planning commission's decision shall be final.

(Ord. No. 6175 , § 1, 9-13-2016)