Glossary
Reasonable restriction
A restriction on a solar or renewable-energy installation that a statute allows because it does not significantly increase cost or reduce performance beyond the statutory standard.
Why it matters
"Reasonable restriction" is the limit of what an HOA or other approval entity may still impose
after a statute strikes down outright prohibitions. The standard is defined by statute, not by
the approval entity: for example, California Civil Code section 714 uses $1,000 in added cost and
a 10 percent efficiency decrease for photovoltaic systems, and Arizona Revised Statutes section
33-1816 allows placement rules that do not prevent installation, impair function, restrict use,
or adversely affect cost or efficiency.
What to check
The exact statutory standard in the property's state, the written cost and performance figures
for the proposed and alternative designs, and whether the restriction meets the standard.
Jurisdictional variation
The test and benchmarks vary by state; a restriction reasonable in one state can exceed the
statutory line in another.