Version Date 08/2018 
ROOF MOUNTED PV 
 
SETBACKS AND CONDUIT  Residential Building Codes Enforced: 
REQUIREMENTS  2016 California Building Code Appendix 
 Building Division  Chapter 1 & Appendix H 
 4381 Broadway, Suite 201   2016 California Electrical Code (CEC) 
American Canyon, CA 94503   2016 California Mechanical Code (CMC) 
Inquiries: (707) 647‐4581   2016 California Plumbing Code (CPC) 
 
Inspection Request: (707) 551‐4619  American Canyon Municipal Code(ACMC) 
www.cityofamericancanyon.org 
The information provided in this handout id general and intended as a guide only. Each project is unique and additional 
requirements may be enforced as deemed appropriate by the Building Official 

The following information is being provided to clarify locations of conduit installed in conjunction with rooftop 
photovoltaic (PV) systems. The intent is to limit the hazard of cutting live conduit during fire department roof venting 
operations and to minimize roof mounted tripping hazards for firefighters. All installations shall meet the requirements 
of the 2016 California Code (CFC) section 605.  **Solar Projects are limited to certified professional installers and 
owner‐builder applications are not permitted. ** 
 
In addition to standard plan requirements, all plans submitted for PV installation shall include the following details: 

1. Plans  shall  include  both  ROOF  ACCESS  and  PATHWAYS  setbacks.  Plans  shall  include  dimensions  and  shading  / 
hatching for clarity.  
2. The location of all roof and attic mounted conduit shall be shown on the plans.  
3. Conduit on both interior and exterior runs shall not be located within 3’ feet of the ridge. Plan submittals  
proposing  conduit  installations  in  the  attic  shall  require  a  section  detail  of  the  attic  with  conduit  installation 
locations with dimensions. 
4. Conduit located in attics shall be installed away from the ridge area. When an attic installation is utilized, conduit 
shall be attached to the bottom of load‐bearing members and/or installed directly below the array or mounted to 
the top of ceiling joists to minimize the likelihood of saws cutting the conduits and conductors.  
5. Conduit  will  be  run  as  directly  as  possible  to  an  outside  wall  to  reduce  trip  hazards  and  maximize  ventilation 
opportunities.  
6. Electrical metallic tubing (EMT) and other forms of conduit is not permitted in exposed exterior locations visible 
from the public right‐of‐way. Exposed conduit placed toward the rear of the house out of view of the public right‐
of‐way shall be painted to match the color of the house. 
 
New California Setback Rules ‐ July 1st, 2018 
  
Effective July 1st, 2018 the standard three‐foot setback was changed in California. The goal of this adjustment is to 
increase the amount of solar one can fit on the roof, while maintaining fire safety requirements.  
  
Some key points to take away from this revision are the following:   
1.   Carports, shade structures, flat roofs, and detached garages are still exempt from PV array pathways and ridge 
setbacks.  
2.   Roof setbacks from ridge for ventilation relaxed from 36 inches to 18 inches for solar systems that take up less 
than 1/3 of the plan view total roof area.  
3.   For homes with sprinkler systems, if the system takes up less than 2/3 of the plan view total roof area, the 
setback for ridge ventilation is also relaxed to 18 inches. 
4.   Follow the diagrams attached, but in general two pathways on each roof section reduced to one.  
5.   In some cases, access pathways for roof faces with PV may be on roof faces adjacent to the roof face with PV 
modules.  
     6.   Roofs under windows now require 36‐inch‐wide access pathway.  
 
 SECTION 324 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

R324.1 General. Solar energy systems shall

comply provisions of this section. R324.6 Roof access and pathways. Roof
access, pathways, and setback requirements
R324.2 Solar thermal systems. Solar thermal shall be provided in accordance with Sections
shall be designed and installed in accordance R324.6.1 through R324.6.2.1.
with the California Plumbing Code and the Access and minimum spacing shall be required
California Fire Code. to provide emergency access to the roof to
provide pathways to specific areas of the roof, to
R324.3 Photovoltaic systems. Photovoltaic provide for smoke ventilation opportunity areas,
systems shall be designed and installed in and to provide emergency egress from the roof.
accordance with Sections R324.3.l through
R324.6.l and the California Electrical Code. Exceptions:
Inverters shall be listed and labeled in 1. Detached, non-habitable structures,
accordance with UL 1741. Systems connected to including but not limited to detached
the utility grid shall use inverters listed for utility garages, parking shade structures,
interaction. carports, solar trellises, and similar
structures, shall not be required to provide
roof access.
R324.3.1 Equipment listings. Photovoltaic 2. Roof access, pathways, and setbacks
panels and modules shall be listed and labeled in need not be provided where the fire code
accordance with UL 1703. official has determined that rooftop
operations will not be employed.
R324.4 Rooftop-mounted photovoltaic
systems. Rooftop mounted photovoltaic panel 3. These requirements shall not apply to
systems installed on or above the roof covering roofs with slopes of 2 units vertical in 12
shall be designed and installed in accordance units horizontal (2: 12) or less.
with Section R907.
R324.6.1 Pathways. (CFC 605.11.1.2.1)
R324.4.1 Roof live load. Roof structures that Not less than two minimum 36-inchwide (914
provide support for photovoltaic panel systems mm) pathways on separate roof planes, from
shall be designed for applicable roof live load. lowest roof edge to ridge, shall be provided on all
The design of roof structures need not include buildings. At least one pathway shall be provided
roof live load in the areas covered by on the street or driveway side of the roof. For
photovoltaic panel systems. Portions of roof each roof plane with a photovoltaic array, a
structures not covered by photovoltaic panels minimum 36-inch-wide (914 mm) pathway from
shall be designed for roof live load. Roof the lowest roof edge to ridge shall be provided on
structures that provide support for photovoltaic the same roof plane as the photovoltaic array, on
panel systems shall be designed for live load, an adjacent roof plane, or straddling the same
LR, for the load case where the photovoltaic and adjacent roof planes. Pathways shall be over
panel system is not present. areas capable of supporting fire fighters
R324.5 Building-integrated photovoltaic accessing the roof. Pathways shall be located in
systems. Building-integrated photovoltaic areas with minimal obstructions such as vent
systems that serve as roof coverings shall be pipes, conduit, or mechanical equipment.
designed and installed in accordance with
Section R905. R324.6.2 Set back at ridge. For photovoltaic
arrays occupying not more than 33 percent of the
R324.5.1 Photovoltaic shingles. Photovoltaic plan view total roof area, not less than an 18-inch
shingles shall comply with Section R905.16. (457 mm) clear set back is required on both sides
of a horizontal ridge. For photovoltaic arrays
occupying more than 33 percent of the plan view ventilation opportunities. Conduit runs between
total roof area, not less than a 36-inch (914 mm) sub arrays and to DC combiner boxes shall be
clear set back is required on both sides of a installed in a manner that minimizes the total
horizontal ridge. amount of conduit on the roof by taking the
shortest path from the array to the DC combiner
R324.6.2.1 Alternative set back at ridge. box. The DC combiner boxes shall be located
Where an automatic sprinkler system is installed such that conduit runs are minimized in the
within the dwelling in accordance with NFPA 13D pathways between arrays. DC wiring shall be
setbacks at ridges shall conform to one of the installed in metallic conduit or raceways when
following: located within enclosed spaces in a building.
Conduit shall run along the bottom of load
1. For photovoltaic arrays occupying not bearing members.
more than 66 percent of the plan view
total roof area, not less than an 18-inch
(457 mm) clear setback is required on
both sides of a horizontal ridge.
2. For photovoltaic arrays occupying more
than 66 percent of the plan view total roof
area, not less than a 36-inch (914 mm)
clear setback is required on both sides of
a horizontal ridge.

R324.6.4 Emergency escape and rescue

opening. Panels and modules installed on
dwellings shall not be placed on the portion of a
roof that is below an emergency escape and
rescue opening. A 36-inch-wide (914 mm)
pathway shall be provided to the emergency
escape and rescue opening.

R324.7 Ground-mounted photovoltaic

systems. Ground mounted photovoltaic systems
shall be designed and installed in accordance
with Section R301.

R324.7.1 Fire separation distances. Ground-

mounted photovoltaic systems shall be subject to
the fire separation distance requirements
determined by the enforcing agency.

R324.7.2 Ground-mounted photovoltaic

arrays.
Ground mounted photovoltaic arrays shall
comply with this section and the California
Electrical Code. Setback requirements shall not
apply to ground-mounted, free-standing

R324.7.3 Locations of DC conductors.

Conduit, wiring systems, and raceways for
photovoltaic circuits shall be located as close as
possible to the ridge or hip or valley and from the
hip or valley as directly as possible to an outside
wall to reduce trip hazards and maximize
Pathways to Ridge - Street Access 2016 CA Intervening Code Cycle (Supplement)
Related CFC Section: (CFC 605.11.1.2.1)

Solar Energy Industries Association

Ridge Setbacks - Not Sprinkled, less than (<33%) Total Roof Area 2016 CA Intervening Code
Cycle (Supplement) Related CFC Section: (CFC 605.11.1.2.2)
Ridge Setbacks - Not Sprinkled, greater than (>33%) Total Roof Area 2016 CA Intervening
Code Cycle (Supplement) Related CFC Section: (CFC 605.11.1.2.2)

Ridge Setbacks - Sprinkled, less than (<66%) Total Roof Area 2016 CA Intervening Code
Cycle (Supplement) Related CFC Section: (CFC 605.11.1.2.2.1)
Ridge Setbacks - Sprinkled, greater than (>66%) Total Roof Area 2016 CA Intervening
Code Cycle (Supplement) Related CFC Section: (CFC 605.11.1.2.2.1)

Structural Support of Pathways 2016 CA Intervening Code Cycle (Supplement)

Setbacks & Pathways Involving Hips & Valleys 2016 Intervening Code Cycle (Supplement)

Setbacks & Pathways Involving Driveways 2016 CA Intervening Code Cycle (Supplement)

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Setbacks & Pathways with Hips, Valleys & Driveways 2016 Intervening Code Cycle

Emergency Escape & Rescue Opening 2016 CA Intervening Code Cycle (Supplement)