Millions of Americans are letting the sun pay their electric bills by installing solar panels in their homes.
Texas installed the 3rd highest solar capacity of any state in 2020. The solar industry invested $4.2 billion into the Texas economy that year. There are currently over 130,000 residential solar installations in Texas. Forecasts estimate that over 200,000 residential systems will be installed in the state by 2026. Over 4,400 MW of solar installed in Texas as of Q3 2021, enough to power over 800,000 homes. Installations have grown 34% annually over the last 5 years.
However, even as Texas is warming to the wide-scale adoption of residential solar power, some homeowners' associations (HOAs) resist residents switching to solar. Their hesitance to embrace the future of solar stems from a limited understanding of how solar energy benefits both homeowners with solar and their neighbors who have not yet made the switch.
Texas and twenty-four other states have enacted laws to protect homeowners' right to power their homes through solar energy. Regrettably, many HOAs restrict or flatly restrict or place unreasonable limitations on residential solar installations. Several laws clearly defining a homeowner's solar rights are listed below.
- Texas Property Code Section 202.010 expressly forbids HOAs and property owner's associations from enacting an outright prohibition on property owners installing a residential solar system, as defined by Texas Tax Code Section 171.107.
- Additional legislation (HB 362) specified that Texas homeowners must follow the standard HOA guidelines for seeking improvements and may include a written request or application to an appointed Architecture Review Committee or similar committee.
- The Texas Senate passed (SB1626) allowing property developers to prohibit homeowners in subdivisions from installing solar panels on their homes during the development period only if the development consists of 50 or fewer units.
HOAs will routinely attempt to specify where solar panels may be positioned on a homeowner's roof. In response, a homeowner may petition for a different location on their roof IF they can prove that the spot specified by the HOA would result in a 10% decrease in the estimated annual energy production of the solar system.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has a great resource to determine a solar panel's productivity, such as the PVWatts Calculator.
At Solar Home Review, we recommend solar installers who will help take care of all necessary correspondence with your HOA when installing your residential solar system. Knowing your rights and being well-versed in your remedies beforehand makes for a seamless transition to solar-powered lives.
A quick guide to Texas Solar and HOAs
Texas law allows HOAs to restrict residential solar systems when one or more of the following conditions exist:
- If the solar energy devices are illegal
- If the solar energy devices violate public health and safety
- If the solar energy devices are located on commonly held property within the subdivision
- If the solar energy devices extend higher than the roofline, do not conform to the slope of the roof, or are not parallel to the roofline
- If the solar energy devices are ground-mounted and extend above the homeowner's fence
- If the solar energy devices are installed in a way that avoids the warranties
- If the solar energy devices have an element that is not in silver, bronze, or black tone
or - If the solar energy devices are installed without prior approval by the HOA.
Millions of Americans are letting the sun pay their electric bills by installing solar panels in their homes. If you're a Texas homeowner, don't let your HOA stop you from harnessing the sun's power.
Texas law protects your right to go solar. Take control of your energy costs now by requesting a solar consultation from Solar Home Review. Our experts will ensure your new system complies with HOA guidelines while maximizing energy production.
Make the switch to solar power and take the first step towards energy freedom.