Under NC Solar Easement Act (NCGS §22B-20), HOAs in Wake County and statewide cannot prohibit solar PV collectors on single-family detached homes. HOAs may impose reasonable location and aesthetic conditions but cannot ban outright.
NCGS §22B-20, expanded by NC HB 952 (2019), preempts HOA restrictions that prohibit installation of a solar collector by an owner of a single-family detached residential dwelling. The HOA may regulate the location of the collector — e.g., preferring rear-roof or non-street-facing — and may require screening for aesthetics, but cannot impose conditions that significantly decrease the system's efficiency or increase its installation cost by 'an unreasonable amount.' Courts have generally upheld reasonable color matching (black frames) and conduit routing requirements. Common-area solar (apartments, townhomes) is treated differently and HOAs retain more authority there.
HOA imposing illegal ban: owner may bring civil suit for injunctive relief and attorney fees. NC Real Estate Commission can investigate HOA management companies but not boards directly.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Cary, NC
Cary regulates amplified music under the general noise ordinance. Sound permits available for events. N.C.G.S. §14-288.4 applies to unreasonable disturbances.
Cary, NC
Cary Code of Ordinances Chapter 22, Division 2 prohibits unreasonably loud, disturbing noises that annoy, disturb, or endanger citizens. The ordinance restri...
Cary, NC
Cary regulates construction noise through its general noise ordinance (Chapter 22). Construction activity near residential areas should be confined to reason...
Cary, NC
Cary's noise ordinance covers barking dogs under the general prohibition on disturbing noises. Persistently barking dogs that disturb neighbors may result in...
Cary, NC
Cary's Land Development Ordinance restricts parking of RVs, boats, and trailers in residential areas. These vehicles typically must be stored in rear or side...
Cary, NC
Cary restricts parking of commercial vehicles in residential zones. Large commercial vehicles, semi-trucks, and heavy equipment may not be stored in resident...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Wake County.
See how other cities in Wake County handle hoa restrictions.
See how Cary's hoa restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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