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<p>I have been down this road. I have designed many structures in a
hurricane prone area at the request of the local building
official, using my PE stamp as required. A new building official
who travels to the town once a week decided I could not do that
work anymore. No relief from kicking it up, just more threats
actually. So, I hire a structural engineer now, and have used
that to show that when the renewable energy program engineer
failed me for not using a certified system, that the structural
compliance letter was sufficient. Eventually they agreed.</p>
<p>Chris<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 6/25/2025 6:59 PM, William Miller
via RE-wrenches wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:e985f19dafe4a0f3e074ef82f33c5160@mail.gmail.com">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Friends:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I
am having a problem pulling a permit in our county
jurisdiction. The project is a ground mount array with a low
tilt angle resulting in an overall rack height less than
6’. The county checklist for solar permits says:
"Engineering is required for arrays exceeding six feet above
adjacent grade." I wanted to make sure this was the current
criteria so I emailed a senior building official before I
submitted my plans and received a reply stating the same
criteria.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I
have done jobs in the county in the past with the same low
height and not been required to provide engineering. The
system we use is pretty robust. You can see a description <a
href="https://millersolar.com/MillerSolar/practices/DrivenPipe/DrivenPipe.html"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>. The rail is SnapNRack
200 series.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">However
for this project I am being denied a permit with this
reason: By not using one of SnapNRack’s suggested support
structures I am “altering” the “racking kit.” I am told if
I provide a structural analysis a permit will be approved.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The
SnapNRack web site says this on the subject: “The system is
fully compatible with various foundation types, including</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">ground
screws, grade beams, and standard pier concrete
foundations." We all know that the word “including” does
not preclude other possibilities. I even got one of the
SnapNRack engineers to write an email saying alternative
support structures are allowed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I
have worked up the entire chain of command in San Luis
Obispo County including the department director and the
office of County Counsel with no change in status. I filed
an appeal but the county refused to hear the appeal.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I
called my county supervisor to intervene but the building
department is giving them the same reason. The logic is
flawed but no one will believe me in spite of the
documentation I have provided.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Last
time we had one of these taller than 6 feet the we had it
engineered at a cost of $5,000. My contract covers me for
the extra expense so the cost would be to the client. I
don’t believe it is right for the customer to have to pay
this extra expense. They are decent people who deserve
better.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I
put together a web page to describe the entire interaction.
It is <a
href="https://millersolar.com/MillerSolar/case_studies/41_County_of_SLO/County_of_SLO.html"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I
think this is wrong and my principals are not allowing me to
give in. This is a pattern with this building department.
The last time this happened I fought for months and finally
won. I embarrassed them and I think the department is
trying to punish me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">I
am looking for an attorney but so far all of them are too
busy to take my case.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Have
anyone of you experienced anything like this? Anyone have
any advice?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Thanks
in advance.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">William
Miller</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Miller
Solar</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">17395
Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">805-438-5600</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a
href="http://www.millersolar.com/" moz-do-not-send="true">www.millersolar.com</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">CA
Lic. 773985</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<br>
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Christopher Warfel, PE
ENTECH Engineering, Inc.
PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807
(401) 447-5773</pre>
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