California Civil Code Section 714 (Solar Rights Act) prohibits HOAs and CC&Rs from banning solar panels. Any restriction that reduces system efficiency more than 10 percent or cost more than 1,000 dollars is void.
California Civil Code Section 714, commonly called the Solar Rights Act, prohibits homeowners associations, covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) from enforcing rules that ban solar energy systems on residential property. The law applies to Galt communities including planned subdivisions with recorded HOA governance. HOAs may adopt reasonable aesthetic standards, but any restriction that significantly decreases system efficiency (historically interpreted as more than 10 percent) or significantly increases cost (more than 1,000 dollars of added cost on a standard install) is void and unenforceable. SB 880 and AB 634 further clarified that HOAs cannot require common-area solar to be installed by the HOA. Homeowners who face unlawful HOA resistance can cite Section 714.1 and seek legal fees if they prevail in court. HOAs may require applications, architectural review for panel placement, and compliance with the CC&R submittal process, but cannot use these steps to effectively deny solar. Galt has relatively few master-planned HOAs compared to other Sacramento region cities, but where they exist, Section 714 controls.
HOAs that unlawfully deny solar applications may face injunctions and liability for attorneys fees under Civil Code 714(f).
See how other cities in Sacramento County handle hoa restrictions.
See how Galt's hoa restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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