State · CA
California law and rules affecting green-home improvements, including Civil Code sections 714 and 714.1 (solar), Civil Code section 1947.6 (tenant EV charging), and related permitting, utility, and fire-safety requirements.
Start with your question. Each answer identifies the property limits and the next steps.
California Civil Code sections 714 and 714.1 generally bar an effective prohibition of a compliant household rooftop solar system, but a condominium association may impose reasonable common-area, roof-maintenance, approval, and indemnity provisions. The roof's legal classification, local permits, and the written approval record still matter.
California's Solar Shade Control Act applies narrowly to post-installation tree or shrub shading of a solar collector: more than 10 percent of the collector absorption area between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local standard time.
For a California common-interest development, an association that requires approval for a solar energy system generally must process the request like an architectural modification, issue its approval or denial in writing, and may trigger deemed approval if it does not deny the application in writing within 45 days after receipt. A reasonable request for additional information is an express exception, and HOA deemed approval does not replace permits, safety requirements, or utility review.
Usually, no. California law makes HOA governing-document provisions void when they effectively prohibit or restrict a solar energy system, subject to reasonable restrictions and to safety, permitting, and utility requirements.
Usually not by an effective prohibition or an unreasonable restriction when the station is in the owner's unit or designated parking space in a California common-interest development. California Civil Code section 4745 still permits reasonable restrictions and requires compliance with local safety, building, zoning, land-use, and permit requirements.
For a covered California residential lease, the landlord must approve a compliant written request for an EV charging station in a parking space allotted to the tenant. Civil Code section 1947.6 has lease-date and parking exclusions and requires a written agreement, tenant-paid costs, code compliance, and insurance unless its testing-laboratory and licensed-electrician exemption applies.
Background for these projects. Examples from other states do not establish California law.
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