Solar Panels Laws In Va

No community association shall prohibit an owner from installing a solar energy collection device on that owner s property unless the recorded declaration for that community association establishes such a prohibition.

Solar panels laws in va.

Deq developed a permit by rule to facilitate the review of small solar projects in virginia. Homeowners associations in virginia. It s power the utility s way or no power at all. Since 2014 virginia law has prohibited hoas from banning solar panels unless the ban appears in the association s recorded declaration.

A power purchase agreement or ppa is an agreement between you and your solar panel provider. Virginia law protects your ability to go solar. The pbr requirements for a complete application to construct and operate are explicitly identified under the regulation rather than being developed on a case by case basis and applies to solar energy projects 150 megawatts or less. Code 15 2 2316 6 defines solar facility as a commercial solar photovoltaic electric energy generation or storage facility or any portion thereof however the term excludes.

Any person residing in a county city or town which has adopted an ordinance pursuant to subsection a may proceed to have solar energy equipment facilities or devices certified as exempt wholly or partially from taxation by applying to the local building department. Homeowners associations can only stop you from installing solar if the hoa s recorded declaration explicitly prohibits solar installations. No community association shall prohibit an owner from installing a solar energy collection device on that owner s property unless the recorded declaration for that community association establishes such a prohibition. The va law actually states.

A recorded declaration is a legal document that lays out the rules of the hoa at its founding. Virginia tax exemptions this is one area where virginia got onto things early on. However the law respects the right of hoas to place reasonable restrictions on the size place and manner of placement of solar facilities on members property. The small renewable energy projects solar permit by rule pbr regulation became effective on july 18 2012.

Except that again west virginia s law stops you from using the services of a third party energy supplier. That s because a solar powered house making its own electricity is worth a lot more than one without. In the 1970 s the state passed laws that let municipalities to exempt solar power from being counted for property taxes.