jsliva,
NO LOCAL CODE WILL REDUCE NEC
They may make a more strick requirement, but the local will never make it less.
Who ever you work for may be allowing it. I hope you have good insurance because if there ever is a lighting stike to that system, guess who they will come after.
I know for FACT Dish does not allow panel clamps to an AC unit. As far as I know they do not allow panel clamps at all.
Again I say you either have a very lax dish QAS or they have not been going behind you. I would say they have not been in your area. At some point they will be, and when they do get ready to see you check go away when they find that stuff.
