Hollywood, FL Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Hollywood Code § 151.124
- Zoning treatment
- Permitted accessory use, all districts
- Historic exception
- Excludes Historic Districts/structures
- Flat roof height cap
- 5 feet above roof
- HOA acknowledgment
- Required on permit application
- Adopted by
- Ord. O-2014-09, 6-18-14
Summary
Hollywood treats rooftop photovoltaic solar systems as permitted accessory equipment in every zoning district except Historic Districts, so a homeowner or business does not need a zoning variance, only a building permit under City Code § 151.124 before panels go up.
(C) Permitted accessory equipment. Rooftop photovoltaic solar systems shall be deemed permitted accessory equipment to residential and commercial, conforming and nonconforming, buildings and structures in all zoning districts except for historic structures and structures within the city's Historic Districts. ... (E) Permits. Prior to the issuance of a permit the property owner(s) must acknowledge, as part of the permit application, that: (1) If the property is located in a homeowners' association, condominium association, or otherwise subject to restrictive covenants, the property may be subject to additional regulations or requirements despite the issuance of a permit by the city; and (2) The issuing of said permit for a rooftop photovoltaic solar system does not create in the property owner(s), its, his, her or their successors and assigns in title, or create in the property itself a right to remain free of shadows and/or obstructions to solar energy caused by development adjoining on other property or the growth of any trees or vegetation on other property or the right to prohibit the development on or growth of any trees or vegetation on another property.
Full Breakdown
124 of the Hollywood Code of Ordinances, adopted under the Go SOLAR-Broward Rooftop Solar Challenge, deems rooftop PV systems permitted accessory equipment for residential and commercial buildings, conforming or nonconforming, in every zoning district except historic structures and property inside the city's Historic Districts. If the Go Solar program expands to cover historic properties, those applications go first to the Historic Preservation Board or the Joint Historic and Planning Development Board, and no application fee is charged for that review. Height is capped at the roof line on sloped roofs and no more than five feet above a flat roof, with or without a parapet.
Before the Building Division issues the permit, the property owner must sign an acknowledgment on the application covering two points: first, that an HOA, condo association, or restrictive covenant may still impose extra rules the city permit does not override; second, that the permit creates no right to keep neighboring trees or development from shading the panels, and no right to force removal of a neighbor's trees or vegetation. Where the city has discretion over removing or relocating city trees under Chapter 106, solar access is one factor weighed in that decision.
Once installed, the owner must keep the system free of hazards such as faulty wiring, loose fastenings, or any unsafe condition detrimental to public health or safety.
Violations & Fines
Section 151.124 itself sets no separate fine schedule, so a violation, installing without the required permit, exceeding the roof-line/five-foot height cap, or letting the system fall into an unsafe condition, falls under the Code's general penalty, § 10.99: a fine of up to $500, imprisonment up to 60 days, or both, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a zoning variance to install rooftop solar in Hollywood, FL?
How high can rooftop solar panels be mounted in Hollywood?
Can my condo or HOA stop my solar permit in Hollywood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hollywood
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Hollywood to another location·View the Florida solar energy overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Panel Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle panel permits.