HOAS Restricting Solar Panels: Can You Go Solar if You Live in an HOA Neighborhood?

Many homes in Georgia fall within a Homeowners Association which is considered as a coalition of homeowners governed by a neighborhood-based voluntary board that oversees community services. Including the preservation of common areas, the creation and implementation of community guidelines (architecture), and more.

In order to ensure that all homeowners abide with them an elected council governs the HOA rules. The HOA also functions as the body by which one is given approval to go forward with improvements to a home or fix community concerns, including adding solar energy to your home.

Specifically, the implementation of solar panels can contribute to controversies about how the solar panels affect the neighborhood’s appearance and character or that they may cause the neighborhood’s property values to decline. 

However, in reality, according to Sarah Mikhitarian at Zillow, “During the past year [2018], homes with solar-energy systems sold for 4.1% more on average than comparable homes without solar power.” In a less mature solar market like Georgia, you could arguably expect more. Mikhitarian explains that translates into an additional $9,274 for the median-valued home. 

She also notes that “More than 80% of homebuyers say energy-efficient features are important, according to the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report.” Proving without a doubt that energy efficiency is a big selling point for home buyers as it provides substantial savings in future electricity prices.

Many HOAs restricting solar panel policies in Georgia were written in the 80’s and 90’s when solar panels looked very different. At the time, many people thought of ‘Solar Hot water heaters’ (big in the 70’s) when they thought of solar energy. So lots of HOA’s simply need to see that newer systems look constructionally integrated.

For example, a side profile of the average panel is only about 2 inches in diameter. So, if a homeowner’s solar array design is set to be installed down the slope of the roof,  it’s very hard to see from the road. As the thin profile makes them virtually disappear.

HOA boards provide a framework for the approval of the solar array design, construction, and installation. Often it can require the display of plans or photographs of the proposed system in order to achieve approval thereof.

With our expert team of in-house NABCEP certified designers and technicians, we will provide you all of the information and design specifics of your potential layout, and work with the association until we’ve got it right! They don’t call us Creative Solar USA for nothing! We’re always happy to be flexible and creative in order to help you get the most out of your system.

In addition, if your HOAs’ restricting solar panels, consider the fact that members of the HOA board comply with community bylaws. In theory, you can alter the HOA bylaws if you can gain over 75% of property owners with some compelling reasoning.

Solar panels have important environmental benefits and help tackle one of our greatest potential problems, climate change. Traditional methods of energy production pollutes our environment even more than vehicles do and the majority of power plants in the U.S. pollute the air overall. The pollution has an effect not only on climate change, but also on serious health problems such as asthma, bronchitis, lung disease, and reduces resistance to infection.

Adding solar panels to a home will also increase it’s resale value. All while reducing the monthly energy costs.

So what are you waiting for? Give us a call TODAY and let us show you how much you can save with solar energy!!