Homeowners associations (commonly referred to as HOAs) are typically put in place to maintain order, preserve applicable property values, and to generally enhance the overall quality of life within a residential community.

However, HOAs can be a double-edged sword depending on the circumstances. Homeowners looking to convert to solar might run into obstacles from HOAs, which tend to view rooftop solar panels as undesirable (for whatever reason). 

Can My HOA Prevent Me From Going Solar?

Although there is no overarching hard-and-fast regulation protecting homeowners wanting to install a solar energy system, many states view going solar as a right and have taken measures to reduce the ability of HOAs to intervene.

For example, in 2022 both North Carolina and Indiana passed legislation that limits an HOAs power over solar installations. But not every state has laws guaranteeing HOA residents the right to installation. In some states homeowners have very little leverage in a legal sense.

Solar Access Laws

Certain laws called Solar Access Laws have been put in place to allow residents to install solar – even households who live in an HOA. Again, laws will vary from state to state. Some state laws guarantee residents the right to install solar while other laws put restrictions on how far HOAs can go in controlling design and installation of a solar energy system. 

Some states restrict HOAs from altering solar energy system design and implementation if there is a marked drop in energy production or a considerable increase in installation cost. This inherently serves homeowners because solar energy systems are typically designed for optimum production. Any alterations made by HOAs will more than likely compromise energy production and affect overall installation cost.

States with Solar Access Laws

States with solar access laws include:

• Arizona
• California 
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Missouri
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• Washington, DC
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

States Without Solar Access Laws

There are still more than a few states that do not have solar access laws, although many of the following states are taking measures to implement them. States without solar access laws currently include:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Georgia
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New York
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Wyoming

Getting Permission to Install Solar Panels

Although in some cases you may not need permission from your HOA to install solar panels, it is always best to cooperate with your HOA as much as possible to avoid any sort of conflict.

Refer to the rules and regulations of your particular HOA. Get a copy of the most up-to-date rules and make yourself familiar with all applicable policies. If you live in a state that has solar access laws, familiarize yourself with how access laws work in your state.

Obviously, it’s best to be on good terms with your HOA. Try to be as transparent as possible and be willing to work with your homeowners association to achieve the best result/outcome for both parties. 

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