Are you contemplating solar to help offset your bills, and/or to provide energy security, and you live in a neighborhood with a Homeowner’s Association (HOA)? It’s important to investigate if your HOA is solar-friendly. HOAs vary widely in their acceptance of solar. Some are open to having solar while other’s are fine with solar installations as long as they can’t be seen by neighbors or from the road. Some HOA’s don’t allow solar installations at all it. The initial step in your research process should be to find out if your HOA is solar-friendly.
HOA Covenants are Decades Old!
Many HOA covenants are out of date. At present, it’s common to have solar panels on roofs or ground mounts and electric powered cars in garages. Several HOAs have updated their covenants/bylaws regarding solar installations. In fact,
30 states have solar access laws explicitly stating that HOAs cannot deter homeowners from having solar on their roof or grounds. Inequities would exist if only the houses that had adequate solar exposure could have solar while other houses could not.
Solar Access Laws
What are solar access laws? Solar access laws allow residents to install solar, even if they live in an HOA. Georgia’s Solar Easements Act of 1978 allows system owners to negotiate their access to sunlight, but unfortunately, there are no
HOA-restrictive solar access laws in Georgia “yet”.
A bipartisan bill introduced in 2023, HB522/2023 states, “relating to property owners’ associations and covenants and warranties, respectively, so as to prohibit property owners’ associations from creating or enforcing covenants which infringe upon a lot owner’s right to install a solar energy device or to display the United States flag.” Hopefully, Georgia will join the majority of states that support solar installations that supersede covenant rules.
The HOA Solar Approval Process
First, please review your HOA’s covenants and bylaws. Solar-friendly HOAs often require the homeowner to advise the HOA about their plans to install solar. Plan details must be submitted to the architectural committee for review/approval. Second, we suggest that you receive confirmation in writing from the appropriate board member indicating they have received your request and it’s under review. Don’t assume that if you haven’t heard from them in 60 days that it means they are “okay with it.” You want to avoid completing your solar installation and then having a board member drive up to the house and insist that you “take it down!” Yes, sadly, this happens!
HOAs Need to Know More About Solar
Many HOA board members have little to no knowledge about solar, how it works, or what it can do for them and the neighborhood. They are not solar-friendly! Board members worry about aesthetics and housing values. Once they realize that solar panels are attractive, they can add value to your home and are the reality of the future, they will need to update the covenants/bylaws to reflect the desires of their community.
Contact SVE
Contact SVE at 678.833.5191 or email Info@SouthernViewEnergy.com and we’ll help you determine if your HOA is
solar-friendly.