SolSmart Designees

St. Joseph County

Indiana
SolSmart Gold
Population: 271,826
Designation Level: SolSmart Gold
Year Designated: 2020
View Designee Website
  • Created an online permitting checklist, increasing transparency for community members and solar installers
  • Reviewed local zoning codes and identified restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development
  • Allowed solar by-right accessory use in all zones (so solar installations don’t require special permits or hearings)
  • Cross-trained both inspection and permitting staff on solar PV
  • Provided a streamlined permitting pathway for small PV systems
SolSmart provided a roadmap for communities in our region to proactively and safely manage the increasing interest in solar, driven by a sharp decline in costs by over 70% which brought solar into the mainstream across all sectors and scales over the last decade.
- Leah Thill, Michiana Area Council of Governments Senior Environmental Planner