Condo Rules In Maryland Re Solar Panels

The solar access law in maryland protects property owners from undue restriction.

Condo rules in maryland re solar panels.

Solar panels covenants restricting installation of solar collector systems md. Whether you are a member living within a development governed by a homeowners association hoa or a condominium owners association coa and interested in installing solar panels on your home or a member of the board of directors of a hoa coa or its respective architectural review committees arc in florida it. In the state of california the solar rights act passed in 1978. This particular law includes protections to allow consumer access to sunlight and also limits the ability of homeowner s associations and local government to pass laws or rules preventing the installation of solar energy systems.

The statute provides limitations to restrictions on land use that impose unreasonable limitations on the installation of a solar collector system and defines unreasonable limitations as restrictions that increase the cost or decrease the efficiency of the system significantly. If you propose a unit owner project you will need to get approval from the condo association and obtain an easement to authorize system installation and maintenance. There are several approaches that condo dwellers can take to getting condominium solar panels approved. First you need to get permission from the board of directors of your condominium.

You can go solar even if you live in a condo. Under a solar lease the condominium makes scheduled pre determined rental payments to a solar leasing company which installs and owns the pv system located on the condominium property. Here s what you can do. Jennifer englert olg founder managing partner.

We ve tried it so there s a good chance you can too. The bill hb 117 specifically limits the power of local municipalities and homeowners associations from regulating or prohibiting renewable energy systems like water wind and solar energy. In your request you should include assurances that you will not damage the building s roof or any structure and that any wires you will. Going solar in a condo.

First they ll need to gain permission from their condominium board of directors or homeowners association hoa by confirming that solar will not damage their building s roof and if it does it is covered under a warranty and will increase the property s value. Everybody wins with renewables. Code real property 2 119. Under a ppa a project developer installs owns and operates the pv system on the condominium property and the condominium agrees to purchase the power generated by the system at a set per kilowatt hour cost which is typically competitive with the condominium s electric utility rate.

We now use a 1 5 kw solar panel system that generates enough power for our 2 bedroom home. And arguably the new laws that were enacted were dwarfed at least in the short and mid term by the impact on real estate of the federal coronavirus aid relief and economic security act the maryland governor s executive orders related to covid 19 and the covid 19 administrative orders of the maryland court of appeals. Whether or not you believe that it is your social responsibility to adopt solar power and other renewable energy sources the financial rewards of going solar justify the investment.