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 | | 2026-09-14 | Solar panel A&A approved — 423 Post Oak Circle (ACC request 9/14/2026, approved w/o conditions the same day, per the ACC list in the October 1, 2026 packet). The Board continues to approve solar installations through the ACC process rather than treating them as exempt, so the November 2022 “no approval needed” direction is still not formalized. Source: board-packet-2026-10-01 |
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).