What the law says in Maryland
A majority of states have enacted solar-rights or solar-access laws that prohibit HOAs from outright banning rooftop solar on owner-occupied homes. HOAs typically retain authority to set reasonable placement requirements — color, mounting, and routing of conduit — as long as those rules do not significantly reduce system efficiency or materially increase cost.
Controlling statute: Maryland Homeowners Association Act, Md. Code, Real Prop. § 11B
Read the statuteFederal law overrides HOA rules here
Federal law does not preempt HOA solar restrictions, but most state solar-access laws (in California, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, and many others) do limit aesthetic-only HOA denials.
Common solar clauses in MD HOAs
Most CC&Rs in Maryland include some combination of these provisions. Yours may be stricter or weaker — read your governing documents to be sure.
- 1
ARC approval required, with submission of full system specifications and roof plan.
- 2
Restriction to roof-mounted panels on a non-street-facing slope, where feasible.
- 3
Limits on panel color, frame color, and exposed conduit routing.
- 4
Owner responsible for any roof repairs around panel mounts.
- 5
Removal of panels required if the system is inoperable for more than a defined period.
Questions Maryland homeowners ask
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Can my HOA prohibit solar panels on my roof?
Can the HOA force me to use a specific panel color or location?
What happens if the HOA denies my solar application?
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