Effective April 1, 2025, Michigan's Homeowners' Energy Policy Act (2024 PA 68, codified at MCL 559.301 et seq.) forbids Oakland County HOAs and condominium associations from banning rooftop solar. Any HOA provision that prohibits — or has the effect of prohibiting — a solar energy system is 'invalid and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.' HOAs may still adopt reasonable placement and aesthetic rules through a written solar energy policy, but cannot increase system cost by more than $1,000 or reduce output by more than 10%.
PA 68 of 2024 (the Homeowners' Energy Policy Act) took effect April 1, 2025 and applies to all Michigan homeowners associations and condominium associations, including those throughout Oakland County's subdivisions (Bloomfield Hills, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield, Novi). Key provisions: (1) HOAs must adopt a written solar energy policy by April 1, 2026; (2) blanket prohibitions on solar are void; (3) HOAs may reasonably regulate solar placement and visibility for aesthetic reasons; (4) any restriction that increases system cost by more than $1,000 OR decreases output by more than 10% is unenforceable; (5) HOAs cannot require a particular brand of panel; (6) the Act also covers other 'energy-saving improvements' like heat pumps and EV chargers. The Act does not apply to historic districts or to government-owned property. Homeowners denied permission to install solar can sue in circuit court for injunctive relief and attorney fees.
An HOA that enforces a blanket solar ban or imposes an unreasonable cost/output restriction risks being ordered by an Oakland County Circuit Court to grant approval, plus paying the homeowner's attorney fees. HOAs that fail to adopt a written solar policy by April 1, 2026 may be unable to enforce any solar-related restriction at all.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Oakland County, MI
Outdoor music in Oakland County is regulated municipally. Public events, parades, and concerts are typically exempt or permit-driven. Pontiac (Ch. 58-IV) exe...
Oakland County, MI
Oakland County does not set a county-wide dBA limit. Royal Oak Zoning §770-94 caps noise at 75 dBA between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and 60 dBA between 10:00 ...
Oakland County, MI
Amplified music in Oakland County is governed by each municipality. Charter Township of Oakland (Ch. 274) bans speakers and sound amplifiers loud enough to b...
Oakland County, MI
Oakland County has no county-wide leaf-blower ordinance. Birmingham (an Oakland County city) adopted a resolution on September 11, 2023 to phase out two-stro...
Oakland County, MI
Oakland County Animal Control does not respond to barking-dog complaints. Barking is enforced by each municipality's police department under its local noise/...
Oakland County, MI
Construction-noise hours are set by each Oakland County municipality, not the county. Common windows: Charter Township of Oakland (Ch. 274) allows constructi...
See how Oakland County's hoa restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.