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Solar Access Rights

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Local ordinances or homeowner's association (HOA) rules can affect the installation of solar systems on homes or businesses. While these rules are often created to ensure uniformity or uphold a community's aesthetic standard, they may inadvertantly prohibit the installation of solar electric or solar heating & cooling technologies. In lieu of outright prohibition, some rules allow third parties to require that solar customers make modifications to their system design which may unreasonably increase costs, decrease efficiency, or both.

Across the country lawmakers are now acting to protect property-owners' solar access rights. Solar easements allow a property owner to negotiate for the rights to unobstructed sunlight on their property. Solar access laws provide more protection to solar customers by prohibiting or limiting private restrictions on solar energy installations. 

SEIA supports strong protection for solar access rights in order to reduce restrictions on the installation of solar technologies nationwide.

For more information, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE).