Homeowner Association Guidelines for Solar Panels

In Florida, specifically in South Florida, living in a community governed by a homeowner association is the norm. Many homeowners associations (HOAs) claim that they do not allow solar roofing. It is important for homeowners to be aware of their rights, and that it is ILLEGAL to tell you that you cannot install solar on your home. In this blog we explain the HOA guidelines for solar panels.

Here at Bison Roofing and Solar, we constantly hear customers tell us that their HOA is telling them “no” in response to a solar panel install. To make things easier for you, we put together a handy guideline for adding solar to your home and live in an HOA governed community

 HOA SOLAR PANEL GUIDELINES

Do not allow your HOA to tell you that you cannot install solar panels. This is illegal. 

Florida Statute (163.04) prohibits any HOA from preventing a resident from adding a renewable energy source to your home. This means that you can go ahead and start shopping for solar panel installers if you live in an HOA Community. Your HOA may have some specific requirements related to solar, but they cannot decline them completely.

“A property owner may not be denied permission to install solar collectors or other energy devices by any entity granted the power or right in any deed restriction, covenant, declaration, or similar binding agreement to approve, forbid, control, or direct alteration of property with respect to residential dwellings and within the boundaries of a condominium unit.”

Specific homeowner associations have different solar energy rules pertaining mostly to where you can place them on your roof or property. However, these rules cannot interfere with their production.  When you decide to add renewable energy to your home, talk to your Homeowners Association first to make sure you are in compliance with their unique regulations. However, by law they cannot decline your right to install solar panels on your own property. If they try to tell you otherwise, we advise looking up the laws and bringing them to the head of your HOA. It may be an uphill battle, but one that is worth fighting!

What HOAs May Be Able to Dictate When it Comes to Solar Panels

HOAs have a say in where you place your solar panels on your roof. AS LONG AS THIER RULES DO NOT AFFECT THEIR EFFICIENCY. As an example, they cannot insist that you install your solar panels on a portion of the roof that would lead to poor production, such as a north-facing space, or one where the sunlight is blocked by another structure.

Your HOA has some say in the matter, but at the end of the day if you want to go solar, you are absolutely entitled to. If they ask you to place them in a different location, it may not negatively affect the price of your system. While HOAs do dictate many of the aesthetics of the neighborhoods they govern, they are pretty limited when it comes to solar energy.

If your HOA is making unreasonable requests or insisting that you don’t get solar, you can always speak with an attorney. They will go through your rights, and make sure that the HOA is being compliant from a legal standpoint. These Florida solar laws and statutes are in place for a reason –  We all want to save money for our households while helping the environment be a cleaner place for generations to come!

Bison Roofing and Solar has done work in many HOA communities in South Florida.

Being in the business since 2005, Bison knows HOA solar panel guidelines through and through. Whenever we work with a homeowner in an HOA, we take this into account. We create  a customized proposal that will be ideal for both your energy usage and cost savings, while being compatible with HOA requirements.

Have further questions about adding solar panels to your home and you live in an HOA? Bison Roofing and Solar is here to help!

Contact us today for a free proposal and help in working around your HOA solar panel guidelines.