Inglewood, CA Solar Energy: HOA Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Cal. Civil Code § 714, statewide
- HOA denial deadline
- 45 days or deemed approved
- Photovoltaic cost threshold
- Over $1,000 counts as "significant"
- Willful violation penalty
- Actual damages plus up to $1,000
- Prevailing party
- Awarded reasonable attorney's fees
- Public entities
- Must certify compliance for state solar funding
Summary
California Civil Code Section 714 voids any HOA covenant, deed restriction, or governing document clause in Inglewood that effectively prohibits or restricts a residential solar energy system. Associations can only impose "reasonable restrictions" that do not significantly raise the system's cost or cut its efficiency. An association that willfully violates the statute owes actual damages plus a civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars.
(a) Any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any deed, contract, security instrument, or other instrument affecting the transfer or sale of, or any interest in, real property, and any provision of a governing document, as defined in Section 4150 or 6552, that effectively prohibits or restricts the installation or use of a solar energy system is void and unenforceable. (b) This section does not apply to provisions that impose reasonable restrictions on solar energy systems...reasonable restrictions on a solar energy system are those restrictions that do not significantly increase the cost of the system or significantly decrease its efficiency or specified performance, or that allow for an alternative system of comparable cost, efficiency, and energy conservation benefits. (f) Any entity, other than a public entity, that willfully violates this section shall be liable to the applicant or other party for actual damages occasioned thereby, and shall pay a civil penalty to the applicant or other party in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).
Full Breakdown
Civil Code Section 714 governs every Inglewood homeowners association and any deed, contract or "governing document" as defined in Civil Code Sections 4150 or 6552, and it voids any clause that effectively prohibits or restricts installing or using a solar energy system. The reasonableness carve-out in subdivision (b) lets an HOA impose only restrictions that do not significantly increase system cost or significantly decrease efficiency, or that allow a comparable-cost, comparable-efficiency alternative. Subdivision (d) quantifies "significantly": for domestic water and pool heating systems, a cost increase over 10 percent of system cost, capped at one thousand dollars, or an efficiency loss over 10 percent; for photovoltaic systems, a cost increase over one thousand dollars or an efficiency loss over 10 percent, measured against what was originally specified and proposed.
Subdivision (e) sets the approval clock: an association must process a solar application the same way it processes an architectural modification, and if it does not deny the application in writing within 45 days of receipt, the application is deemed approved unless the delay stems from a reasonable request for more information. Subdivision (f) makes an association that willfully violates the section liable for the applicant's actual damages plus a civil penalty up to one thousand dollars, and subdivision (g) awards reasonable attorney's fees to whichever side prevails in court.
Subdivision (h) bars a noncompliant public entity from receiving state-sponsored solar grant or loan funds and requires public entities to certify compliance when applying, and it forbids a local public entity from exempting its own residents from the statute. Because the law is statewide, Inglewood has adopted no separate municipal HOA-solar ordinance; the city's own Article 17 expedited permitting rules (Sections 11-167 through 11-171) govern building-permit review, while Section 714 governs what an Inglewood association's CC&Rs can lawfully restrict.
Violations & Fines
An association that willfully blocks or unreasonably delays a compliant solar application is liable for the homeowner's actual damages plus a civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars, and the losing side in any enforcement suit pays the prevailing party's attorney's fees. Missing the 45-day written-denial deadline does not just risk a penalty; it makes the application deemed approved automatically. A public entity that fails to comply loses eligibility for state-sponsored solar grant or loan funding until it certifies compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my Inglewood HOA reject my solar panel plans?
What counts as a "significant" cost increase an HOA can cite?
What can I recover if my association wrongfully blocks my panels?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Inglewood
California rules heatmap·Compare Inglewood to another location·View the California solar energy overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
HOA Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle hoa restrictions.