Solar Panels For Condos In California

Effective january 1 2018 a new law makes it easier for a california condominium owner to install a solar energy system on the roof the building in which he or she resides.

Solar panels for condos in california.

Solar for condominium unit owners is uncommon but gaining steady popularity particular in states like california where specific legislation has been written about it. We ve tried it so there s a good chance you can too. Because solar projects in condominiums involve multiple stakeholders they are inevitably more complicated than installing solar on a single family home. Most solar panels last for 50 years have a 25 year warranty and start generating a return on investment after 8.

This will help condo owners tremendously with solar adoption and its potential for clean energy savings. Going solar with a homeowners association hoa doesn t have to be a headache and it often isn t. California established the solar rights act in 1978 which limits the ability of hoas and local governments to prevent the installation of solar panel systems. In addition all property owners in the golden state enjoy solar easement rights which they can carry out on a case by case basis with their neighbors.

We now use a 1 5 kw solar panel system that generates enough power for our 2 bedroom home. Yes you read that right. Several states have solar rights acts which limit the ability of an hoa to simply reject a proposal to install panels on your property 1 the california solar rights act does not allow an hoa. Going solar in a condo.

But unfortunately when it comes to something sensible and beneficial like solar panels condo owners often have limited options. About half are single. Characteristics of successful solar projects for condos associations. The law also covers the installation of such a system on a garage or carport adjacent to the building that has been assigned to the owner for exclusive use.

The average solar panel payback period is 7 to 12 years and solar energy saves 600 to 2 000 per year on electricity costs. How many new homes will get solar after jan. Overall 6 6 of california homes now have solar panels. This law change will make solar adoption in condos far easier and more likely for these shared space buildings.

Roughly 110 000 new housing units are built every year in california. First you need to get permission from the board of directors of your. A good way to think of it is if half of the condo owners want to install solar panels on the property and they have enough money and space for the project then they can do it. Here s what you can do.

Thanks to new laws california hoas can t obstruct solar installations on their properties. The average cost to install solar panels is from 10 626 to 26 460 after tax credit for a 6kw to 12kw system to power an entire house.