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ALERT: PV (Solar) Plan Reviews

*UPDATED PV PERMIT APPLICATIONS & CHECKLIST* now required after 2/7/2024 for: 

  • PV Plan Review permits
  • PV Accessory/Stand Alone Structure permits 
  • Energy Storage System (ESS) permits

The Town of Hadley/Hadley Fire Department PV permit applications for the above items are available on our Permits Page. These are the permit applications your company must use. Each individual PDF permit application also includes the checklist and the Solar Placard example & instructions in 1 document. The checklist states required items to be included with your permit application, drawings, cut sheets, etc. 

Fire, EMS, HAZMAT and all other emergencies will take precedence over plan reviews & inspections. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Weekly our office is receiving Photovoltaic (PV) plan reviews & permit applications that are incomplete or missing required items. Untold staff hours are being used to contact the solar provider to have them fix the issues; sometimes more than once. This in turn causes those lost hours to be taken away from time that could be spent on plan reviews - hence creating a longer plan review time frame. Please remember:

  • It can take up to 30 days for submitted plans to be reviewed.
  • Some plan reviews also require a site visit.
  • Plan drawings, cut sheets, permit app: all must be MAILED or DROPPED OFF to the Fire Station with the appropriate fee.
  • The initial "30 days" countdown begins when said plans AND fee are received in our offices; not emailed.
  • The "30 days" is business days only and do not include weekends or holidays.
  • Plans that are submitted incomplete or with errors will cause a delay in final approval.
  • Emailing is only allowed for fixes or updates requested by our offices to the submitting company.

Both the International Building Code (2015 ed.) and the Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention Regulations have sections that pertain to plan reviews: 527 CMR: BOARD OF FIRE PREVENTION REGULATIONS527 CMR 1.00: MASSACHUSETTS COMPREHENSIVE FIRE SAFETY CODE1.7.12 Plans and Specifications: 

  • 1.7.12.1 The AHJ shall have the authority to require plans and specifications to ensure compliance with this Code and M.G.L. c. 148. Construction documents and shop drawings submitted shall be acted upon before work commences and within 30 days of the date of receipt of a completed application and construction documents unless extended by the AHJ. 
  • Some towns or cities may have local bylaws pertaining to plan reviews; especially if joint town departments work together on a specific installation, alteration or inspection.

Please call our office if the 30-day mark is approaching and you have not heard from us prior. 413-284-0874, ext. 311