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.
Wake County, NC
Wake County Code §92.05(H), (I), and (L) target industrial and commercial noise: construction over 1,000 ft from residences, loading/unloading noise at night...
Wake County, NC
Wake County Code §92.05(B), (C), (F) prohibits vehicle exhaust noise from out-of-repair or modified vehicles, gong/siren on non-emergency vehicles, and any i...
Wake County, NC
Wake County treats cats the same as dogs under Ch. 91 — owners must vaccinate against rabies at 4 months and keep current tag displayed at all times per §91....
Wake County, NC
Wake County does NOT impose a numeric limit on pets in unincorporated areas. Cities vary: Raleigh allows up to 4 dogs/cats over 4 months per dwelling under §...
Wake County, NC
Wake County adopted the NC Fire Prevention Code (NCFC) under Code Ch. 72. Residential propane storage follows NCFC Chapter 61 and NFPA 58 — typical residenti...
Wake County, NC
Wake County Code §130.05 (adopted 11-9-2022, effective 12-9-2022) prohibits firearm discharge within 300 yards of any dwelling, school, church, warehouse, pl...
See how Wake County's hoa restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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