If your homeowner’s association has restricted you from installing solar panels on your house in the past, then it’s time to check again as some state legislatures, including Missouri, are changing the rules to allow solar.
Beginning January 1, 2023, homeowner’s associations (HOA) in Missouri can no longer prohibit residential solar panels, thanks to a new law sponsored by Sen. Eric Burlison, a Republican from Battlefield, MO. The new law will give all Missouri homeowners the right to install solar panels on the roof of any residential property or structure. According to the law, HOAs “may adopt reasonable rules regarding the placement of solar panels or solar collectors to the extent those rules do not prevent the installation of the device or adversely affect its functioning, use, cost or efficiency.”
In the past, many HOAs have prohibited rooftop panels primarily for aesthetic reasons.
“I have heard several stories from constituents about overzealous HOAs restricting the installation of solar panels on that member’s personal property,” Burlison said. “I understand most HOAs are good-intentioned, but these solar panel regulations range from superficial to downright ridiculous. Homeowners should have the right to install solar panels on their property to reduce their energy costs and manage their property as they see fit.”
If you would like to learn more, Renew Missouri is offering two free It’s Always Sunny in Your HOA: Breaking Down Missouri’s New HOA Law webinars from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., on Tuesday, September 13 and Tuesday, September 27. Sign up at Renew Missouri.
To see what the rules are in other states, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. It provides a state-by-state list of policies and incentives for renewable energy and efficiency. You can search by zip code to get specific information, which also includes solar laws and regulations, rebates, tax incentives, net metering regulations and more on energy efficiency and electric vehicle incentives.
Photo: Clayton Bunn