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Coconino County, AZ Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing statute
A.R.S. § 33-1816
HOA outright ban
Prohibited under subsection (A)
Placement rules allowed
Only if not unduly restrictive
Attorney fees
Mandatory for prevailing party
Extra yard projection
Zoning § 4.5.C.2.B/C, Director approval
Permits still required
Building, EQ, Engineering permits apply

Summary

Arizona law protects the right to install solar panels anywhere in Coconino County, including in a subdivision governed by a homeowners association. A.R.S. § 33-1816 bars an association from prohibiting a solar energy device outright and only lets it adopt placement rules that do not block installation, hurt performance, or raise its cost.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Coconino County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A. Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, an association shall not prohibit the installation or use of a solar energy device as defined in section 44-1761. B. An association may adopt reasonable rules regarding the placement of a solar energy device if those rules do not prevent the installation, impair the functioning of the device or restrict its use or adversely affect the cost or efficiency of the device. C. Notwithstanding any provision of the community documents, the court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to any party who substantially prevails in an action against the board of directors of the association for a violation of this section.

Source: Arizona Revised StatutesView official code

Full Breakdown

§ 44-1761: a system or series of mechanisms designed primarily to provide heating, cooling, electrical or mechanical power, or solar daylighting by collecting and transferring solar energy, including distributed energy generation systems like rooftop photovoltaic arrays. Under Section 33-1816(A), no homeowners association's covenants, conditions, or restrictions can prohibit installing or using one of these devices. An association can still adopt placement rules under subsection (B), but only if those rules do not prevent installation, impair how the device functions, restrict its use, or raise its cost or reduce its efficiency; overreaching rules are unenforceable.

Subsection (C) backs the right with teeth: a court must award attorney fees and costs to whichever side substantially prevails in a lawsuit against an association's board over a Section 33-1816 violation, which discourages associations from fighting a compliant installation. B allows exterior walls retrofitted with vertical solar arrays to project up to 1 foot into a required setback. Beyond setback review, a rooftop or ground-mount solar installation still needs the applicable Building, Environmental Quality, and Engineering permits before work begins.

Violations & Fines

An association that adopts a rule prohibiting solar installation outright, or a placement rule so restrictive it blocks installation, hurts performance, or raises cost, is in violation of A.R.S. § 33-1816 and can be sued by the homeowner. Under subsection (C), a court must award reasonable attorney fees and costs to whichever party substantially prevails, so an association that loses pays the homeowner's legal bill in addition to any other remedy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my HOA stop me from installing solar panels in Coconino County?
No. A.R.S. § 33-1816(A) bars any association from prohibiting the installation or use of a solar energy device regardless of what the community's covenants say. The association can only adopt reasonable placement rules, and even those are void if they prevent installation or hurt the system's performance, cost, or efficiency.
Do I still need a county permit to install solar panels?
Yes. State law only stops an HOA from blocking the installation; it does not replace county permitting. The applicable Building, Environmental Quality, and Engineering permits still apply, and if the array needs extra room in a required setback, Zoning Ordinance Section 4.5.C.2 lets the Community Development Director approve additional projection for solar purposes.
What happens if my HOA sues me over a solar panel?
If the association's rule violates Section 33-1816, and you substantially prevail in the case, the court must award you reasonable attorney fees and costs under subsection (C). That fee-shifting rule discourages associations from bringing or defending a losing fight over a compliant solar installation.
What counts as a protected solar energy device?
A.R.S. § 44-1761 defines it as a system designed primarily to provide heating, cooling, electrical or mechanical power, or solar daylighting by collecting and transferring solar energy, whether active or passive, and it expressly includes distributed energy generation systems such as rooftop photovoltaic panels.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Coconino County

Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsHOA RestrictionsFew RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesFew RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Coconino County rules

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