Right in the midst of the 2016 holiday season, one of our clients informed us that he would be featured on the news. His community’s HOA was attempting to prevent him from installing his solar system, and he wasn’t going down without a fight.
We frequently encounter this question from clients interested in converting to clean energy: Will I still be able to go solar if my HOA isn’t on board? The answer can depend upon your local state’s laws, but here in Florida, the answer is YES.
In Florida, we have the Solar Rights Act. This law states that any entity (including Homeowner Associations) cannot prevent the installation of renewable energy devices. HOAs do have the ability to establish certain installation restrictions for their communities, but only to the extent that these restrictions are reasonable. Basically, your neighbor can’t extract vengeance for a long-standing grudge by requiring your solar panels to be installed on a north-facing plane, or on the side of your roof that is surrounded by trees.
Keep in mind these other factors when considering how supportive Florida is of solar energy. While we may currently rank only #26 in the nation for general solar-friendliness, Floridians largely support the expansion and accessibility to solar energy, as illustrated by the success of Amendment 4 last August granting property tax breaks to Florida homeowners who go solar, and the defeat of Amendment 1 in November despite its expensive deceptive marketing campaigning.
So what are you waiting for? Reach out today to learn more about why investing in your own power source is now more affordable than ever before.
