HOA Restrictions: Reedley vs Selma
How do hoa restrictions rules compare between Reedley, CA and Selma, CA?
Reedley and Selma have similar restriction levels.
Reedley, CA
Fresno County
California Civil Code Section 714, known as the Solar Rights Act, provides strong protections for Reedley homeowners seeking to install solar panels on their property against unreasonable restrictions imposed by homeowners associations. Under this law, HOAs cannot adopt or enforce any covenant, restriction, or rule that effectively prohibits the installation of a solar energy system on an owner's property. An HOA restriction is considered unreasonable and therefore void if it would increase the total cost of the solar energy system by more than $1,000 or reduce the expected electricity output by more than 10 percent as measured in kilowatt hours. HOAs must approve or deny a complete solar energy system application within 45 calendar days of submission, and if the HOA fails to act within that period, the application is deemed approved automatically by operation of law. Any CC&R provision that purports to ban solar panels outright is void and unenforceable.
View full Reedley rules →Selma, CA
Fresno County
California Solar Rights Act bars Selma HOAs from banning solar panels. HOA conditions cannot add over $1,000 in cost or cut efficiency by more than 10 percent.
View full Selma rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Reedley | Selma |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Threshold | Cannot increase cost by over $1,000 | - |
| Efficiency Threshold | Cannot reduce output by over 10% | - |
| HOA Response Deadline | 45 days or auto-approved | - |
| State Law | Civil Code Sections 714, 714.1 | - |
| Enforcement | Civil court, attorney fees recoverable | - |
| Governing Law | - | CA Civil Code Section 714 |
| HOA Review Period | - | 45 days maximum |
| Max Cost Increase | - | $1,000 from HOA conditions |
| Max Efficiency Loss | - | 10 percent from HOA conditions |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Reedley FAQ
Can my HOA in Reedley prevent me from installing solar panels?
No. California Civil Code Section 714 prohibits HOAs from effectively banning solar energy systems. Any CC&R provision or HOA rule that purports to ban solar panels is void and unenforceable under state law.
What solar restrictions can my HOA legally impose?
HOAs may impose reasonable aesthetic requirements such as panel color matching or conduit painting, as long as the restrictions do not increase system cost by more than $1,000 or reduce electricity output by more than 10 percent.
What if my HOA does not respond to my solar application?
If the HOA fails to approve or deny a complete solar energy system application within 45 calendar days, the application is deemed approved automatically by operation of law. The homeowner may proceed with the installation.
Selma FAQ
Can my Selma HOA deny my solar panel installation?
No. California's Solar Rights Act prohibits HOAs from effectively banning solar energy systems. Your HOA may require architectural review and impose reasonable aesthetic standards, but cannot deny your application outright or impose conditions that increase cost by more than $1,000 or reduce efficiency by more than 10 percent.
How long does my HOA have to review a solar application?
Your HOA must complete its review within 45 days of receiving a complete application. If the HOA fails to act within 45 days, the application is automatically deemed approved under state law.
What can I do if my HOA unreasonably restricts my solar panels?
You can challenge the restriction in court. CC&R provisions that conflict with the Solar Rights Act are void and unenforceable. The prevailing party in such disputes may recover attorney fees under Civil Code Section 714(e).
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