Because houses in a subdivision usually face the street, planners in San Jose found that the easiest way to achieve solar orientation was to orient the streets with 30 degrees of the true east-west axis. Homes in such a subdivision would have good solar orientation by default. Other methods of protecting solar access include zoning ordinances, performance criteria, and restrictive covenants. Municipal adoption of any or all of these measures is contingent on local land-use patterns, the political situation, and the physical characteristics of the area. Another critical element of solar access protection is the provision of a redress mechanism that precludes costly and time-consuming legal processes.
Solar access can be mandatory or voluntary.
Many jurisdictions find voluntary guidelines a good way to begin the process of educating builders, developers, and citizens about the benefits of solar access protection. After an evaluation period, during which stakeholders have an opportunity to provide input to local officials, mandatory guidelines can be adopted. Because the San Jose Solar Access Guidelines are voluntary, the Environmental Services Department has developed workshops for architects, builders, developers, and city staff to encourage exploration of the opportunities afforded by solar buildings with protected solar access. Free exchange of information between the local government officials and developers helps ensure that everyone concerned will reap the maximum benefit from solar access protection. The City of San Jose conducts solar access workshops for architects, designers, and builders.