Solar panels clearly fall within this definition.
Solar panel access and hoa.
Click on your state below to learn more about local solar access laws.
Once you ve decided on the solar panels you re going to use the power output that you expect to have your rebates and financing options you re left to gain approval from your homeowner s association.
Here s what hoas need to know about regulating the installation of solar panels.
For example some solar access laws allow hoas to retain the right to influence the design of a rooftop solar array.
House bill 697 expanded upon this legislation to allow condominium boards to install solar on their properties to benefit unit owners without their prior approval.
Sometimes dealing with your hoa can be a headache.
Given that you may be the one educating your customers about their rights in this respect it is important to know your state s existing laws whether provide protections from hoa solar restrictions and what forms they take.
Consideration of hoa restrictions for solar panels is certainly a part of it.
In many cases hoa members may still need to request permission before installing their solar panels and ensure all electrical wiring is out of sight.
Solar access laws that protect homeowners rights during the hoa solar approval process have been adopted by many states including california utah and florida.
Associations are not permitted to prohibit the installation of solar panels on a unit or property which is owned by a member of the association.
Though related solar access laws can be divided into solar easement provisions and solar rights provisions.
The key is to check your state s solar access rights to see if it can prevent you from going solar.
In some cases an hoa may deny you for aesthetic reasons.
For example hoa s can usually determine where the panels can go and how they are installed even in states that have solar access laws.
However they do often allow hoas to place reasonable restrictions on solar systems.
It is also often the case that homeowner s associations have a process for the approval of the design installation or placement of solar panels and sometimes that may require presenting plans or pictures of the proposed system in order to gain the approval of the same.
Check out this list of rules regulations and policies by state to get a feel for the solar access laws in your area if any.
An hoa will only prevent you from installing solar panels if your state requires approval for the installation and then rejects the proposal.
An hoa may restrict where you place your solar panels but not if the system s performance suffers as a result.
The first step to approaching your hoa is to understand the overarching solar access laws in your jurisdiction.
