Summary
Solar panels are an exterior alteration and technically fall under the A&A approval requirement. However, the Board has stated informally that routine solar installations should not require Board approval, and the Board cannot prohibit a solar installation if the homeowner has appropriate city building permits. In practice, submitting an A&A application with a copy of the city permit is the safest approach — the Board cannot reject it, and the paperwork creates a clean record.
Applicable Rules
| Rule | Source | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior alterations visible from outside require A&A approval before work begins | R&Rs 2013/2021 | 3.7 |
| Work without prior A&A approval results in immediate fine | R&Rs 2013/2021 | 3.4, 3.5 |
| Solar installations cannot be prohibited if homeowner has appropriate city building permits | Board policy direction, Nov 2022 | minutes-2022-11-21 |
| Routine solar installations should not require Board approval | Board policy direction, Nov 2022 | minutes-2022-11-21 |
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2022-04-14 | First recorded solar panel A&A approval — 1346 White Oak Lane. Source: minutes-2022-04-14 |
| 2022-11-21 | Board discussed whether routine solar installations should continue coming to the Board for approval. Consensus: they should not. Solar installations cannot be prohibited if the homeowner has appropriate city permits. No formal motion recorded — this is a Board-level policy direction only. Source: minutes-2022-11-21 |
| 2023-10-26 | Solar panel installation submitted — Board determined no approval needed, consistent with November 2022 informal policy. Confirms the no-approval practice is being applied. Source: minutes-2023-10-26 |
| 2024-01-18 | Three solar A&A applications approved: 367 Hemlock Lane, 411 Post Oak Circle, 1346 White Oak Lane (all submitted Oct–Dec 2023). Source: minutes-2024-01-18, board-packet-2024-01-18 |
| 2024-07-09 to 2024-10-02 | Five ACC modifications approved (July–October 2024 reporting period): (1) 1409 Snowberry Lane — solar panels (July 9); (2) 448 Hemlock Lane — roof replacement (July 16); (3) 1339 Sandcherry Lane — solar panels (July 15); (4) 1342 Sandcherry Lane — solar panels (August 21; this is the residence of board member Mike Coker, who received approval through the standard ACC process); (5) 322 Hemlock Lane — solar panels (October 2). Four of five were solar panel installations, continuing the pattern of no-objection processing established in November 2022. Source: board-packet-2024-10-24 |
Open Questions
- The November 2022 policy direction was never formalized as a motion or R&R amendment. The written R&Rs still require A&A approval for all exterior alterations. Until the R&Rs are amended to explicitly exempt solar, there is a gap between the written rule (A&A required) and the Board’s stated intent (routine solar should not need approval).
- It is unclear whether “appropriate city building permits” is the sole condition for the Board’s prohibition on blocking solar, or whether there are additional requirements (e.g., placement, visibility from street).