Civil Code Section 714 is a component of the “California Solar Rights Act.” It limits the degree to which an association’s governing documents may prohibit or restrict the installation of solar energy systems in a member’s separate interest:

“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.” (Civ. Code § 714(a).)

A “solar energy system” means either of the following:

• Any solar collector or other solar energy device whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for space heating, space cooling, electric generation, or water heating; or
• Any structural design feature of a building, whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for electricity generation, space heating or cooling, or for water heating. (Civ. Code §§ 714(d)(2), 801.5(a)(1)-(2).)

“Reasonable Restrictions” Permitted
Civil Code Section 714(b) permits “reasonable restrictions” on the installation or use of solar energy systems. Reasonable restrictions on solar energy systems are “those restrictions that do not significantly increase the costs of the system or significantly decreases its efficiency or specified performance, or that allow for an alternative system of comparable cost, efficiency, and energy conservation benefits.” (Civ. Code § 714(b).)

The term “significantly” has different meanings depending on the type of solar energy system being used (i.e., whether it is solar panels or a solar water heating system):

Photovoltaic Systems (Solar Panels): $1000 Cost Increase or 10% Efficiency Reduction
For photovoltaic systems (solar panels) that comply with state and federal law, “significantly” means:

• “an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) over the system cost as originally specified and proposed,” or
• “a decrease in the system efficiency of an amount not exceeding 10 percent as originally specified and proposed.” (Civ. Code § 714(d)(1)(B).)

Solar Water Heating Systems: 10%/$1,000 Cost Increase or 10% Efficiency Reduction
For “solar domestic water heating systems or solar swimming pool heating systems” that comply with state and federal law, “significantly” means:

• “an amount exceeding 10 percent of the cost of the system, but in no case more than one thousand dollars ($1,000),” or
• “decreasing the efficiency of the solar energy system by an amount exceeding 10 percent, as originally specified and proposed.” (Civ. Code § 714(d)(1)(A).)

Application & Timeline for Approval: 45 Day Maximum
Where association approval for the installation or use of a solar energy system is required, the application must be processed and approved in a manner consistent with that utilized for approving an application for modifications to the owner’s property. (Civ. Code § 714(e)(1); See also “Architectural Application & Approval Process.”) Approval or denial must be in writing. If no approval or denial is received within forty-five (45) days from the date of receipt of the application, the application will be deemed approved unless the delay is due to a reasonable request for the owner to provide additional information. (Civ. Code § 714(e)(2)(A)-(B).)

Additionally, Civil Code Section 714.1(b) allows an association to impose reasonable provisions that require the owner to obtain association approval for the installation of a solar energy system in a separate interest owned by another.

System & Owner Requirements
The solar energy system proposed by an owner must:

• Meet applicable health and safety standards and requirements imposed by state and local permitting authorities, consistent with Government Code Section 65850.5;
• For solar water heating systems, the system must be certified by an accredited listing agency as defined in the Plumbing and Mechanical Codes; and
• For a solar energy system that produces electricity, the solar energy system must meet all applicable safety and performance standards established by the California Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and accredited testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories and, where applicable, rules of the Public Utilities Commission regarding safety and reliability. (Civ. Code § 714(c)(1)-(3).)

Additionally, Civil Code Section 714.1 allows an association to impose reasonable provisions which:

• Restrict the installation of solar energy systems installed in common areas to those systems approved by the association;
• Require the owner of a separate interest to obtain the approval of the association for the installation of a solar energy system in a separate interest owned by another;
• Provide for the maintenance, repair, or replacement of roofs or other building components; and/or
• Require installers of solar energy systems to indemnify or reimburse the association or its members for loss or damage caused by the installation, maintenance, or use of the solar energy system. (Civ. Code § 714.1(a)-(d).)

Solar Energy Systems Installed in Common Area
Civil Code Section 4746 grants owners rights to install solar energy systems on common area roofs, garages and carports, subject to certain limitations discussed below.

Association Requirements
When reviewing a request to install a solar energy system on a multifamily common area roof shared by more than one homeowner, the association must require (Civ. Code § 4746(a)):

• that the applicant/owner notify each owner of a unit in the building sharing the roof of the application, and
• the owner and each successive owner to maintain a homeowner liability coverage policy at all times and provide the association with the corresponding certificate of insurance within 14 days of approval of the application and annually thereafter.

Reasonable Restrictions Which May be Imposed
When reviewing a request to install a solar energy system on a common area roof as described above, the association may also impose reasonable provisions which (Civ. Code § 4746(b)):

• require the applicant to submit a solar site survey showing the placement of the solar energy system, which also includes a determination of the equitable allocation of the usable solar roof area among all owners sharing the same roof, garage or carport;
• require the owner and each successive owner of the solar energy system to be responsible for costs of (i) damage to the common area, exclusive use common area or separate interests resulting from the installation, maintenance repair, removal or replacement of the system, (ii) costs of maintenance, repair and replacement of the system until it has been removed and for the restoration of the area after removal; and
• require the owner to disclose to prospective buyers the existence of the owner’s system and his corresponding responsibilities described above.

Granting Exclusive Use
Permitting an owner to install a Solar Energy System on a common area roof, garage or carport in accordance with the above does not constitute a grant of exclusive use requiring membership approval. (Civ. Code § 4600(b)(3)(J); See also “Granting Exclusive Use of Common Area.”)

Aesthetic Considerations
In reviewing an application for a proposed solar energy system, an association is permitted to consider the aesthetic impacts of the proposed system, provided that such consideration does not violate Civil Code Section 714’s requirements with regard to “significant” increases in the system’s costs or decreases in the system’s efficiency or specified performance:

“Nothing in the language of section 714 prohibits the consideration of aesthetic impacts. To the contrary, the provision in section 714 that “the application for approval shall be processed and approved by the appropriate approving entity in the same manner as an application for approval of an architectural modification to the property” indicates that the Legislature specifically anticipated that an evaluation of a proposed solar energy system–just as any other proposed improvement–would involve the consideration of aesthetics.” (Tesoro del Valle Homeowners Assn. v. Griffin (2011) 200 Cal.App.4th 619, 633.)

No Requirement for Association to Propose Alternative System
If an association justifiably denies an application for a proposed solar energy system, the association is not required to then propose a comparable alternative system that would satisfy the association’s approval requirements:

“We are likewise unpersuaded by [the homeowners’] argument that [the association] had the burden to propose a comparable alternative system at the time it denied [the homeowners’] application. Again, nothing in the language of section 714 imposes such a burden on a homeowners association. The statute requires only that the denial of a solar energy system application be in writing and in a timely manner. (§ 714, subd. (e)(2).) Nor do the CC&R’s or Design Guidelines require that the [association] redesign a solar energy system that fails to garner approval. Instead, the burden is on the homeowner to submit an application that is complete and sufficient to generate approval…once the [association] informed [the homeowners] of the bases of its denial, it was [the homeowners’] burden to reapply for approval of a solar energy system utilizing an application that satisfied the procedural requirements in the CC&R’s and that addressed the [association’s] concerns about location, safety and aesthetics.” (Tesoro del Valle Homeowners Assn. v. Griffin (2011) 200 Cal.App.4th 619, 633.)

Violation & Enforcement of Section 714
An association that “willfully violates” the requirements of Civil Code Section 714 is liable to the applicant or other party for actual damages and a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). (Civ. Code § 714(f).) In an action to enforce compliance with Civil Code Section 714, the “prevailing party shall be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees.” (Civ. Code § 714(g).)

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