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Neighbor does not want me to install ground mount solar

Maybe you can provide some kind of positive incentive for the neighbors to approve ?

Something that makes their lives easier ?
Agree...I'd always try for a win-win, and spend energy towards 'good faith' effort..it's easier for someone in authority to weigh in your favor when you enumerate your good faith efforts. I think OP is already well on the way.
 
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Nothing is unacceptable if it's against the rules that people agreed to. Note: That's Just a general statement that can apply to any aspect of HOA rules.
True! He did state other roof mount and a ground mount exists, so I think the HOA itself has some language needed to clarify its stance.
 
I'm on here just *contemplating* solar. I hadn't thought about neighbors being butts. We get on well with ones either side of us on the street but towards the back. Ugh. Yea.. HOAs are awful (I haven't even asked mine yet since I don't even know what I'm asking for currently)
 
Would a ground mount solar array be considered "a structure" under this rule?
“It depends”

I am going through zoning now for my ground mount. They consider a ground mount array as an accessory structure so I have to meet certain criteria for approvals. I also have to have a 50’ setback, but I’m requesting a variance to build within 18’ of the side property line due to best sun exposure and the surrounding trees.
 
“It depends”

I am going through zoning now for my ground mount. They consider a ground mount array as an accessory structure so I have to meet certain criteria for approvals. I also have to have a 50’ setback, but I’m requesting a variance to build within 18’ of the side property line due to best sun exposure and the surrounding trees.
And there's typically a limit on how many square feet of coverage can be built on a lot. A ground mount would count as coverage, but not on a roof.
 
I think on a roof may be more acceptable for folks in town, but I'd be sure to ask the council first because they can make you take it down plus their may have to be some permitting and inspections involved to make it safe and share in the county wealth.
 
My son lives in a HOA area. Every one has alike places and no one stands out. All the shingled housed look alike colors as well as siding. No one has sheds in there back yard, No ham towers or solar panels in there yards. Great place to live if you like being controlled. I prefer out of the city limits way off the beaten path where the only rules are if you ask.
HOA issued dog and cat too?
 
I had an issue decades ago with my HOA deciding that no one could have a satellite dish that could be seen from the street. I'm talking the small ones. Depending on how your house faces, some would have to have a dish that could be seen from the road if they wanted Direct TV or Dish.

Well it turns out there is a federal law on the books that prevents HOAs from enforcing that kind of rule. From what I have read so far, your state solar law does prevent HOAs from overstepping their authority when it comes to solar. Print off the relevant law and have it ready for the HOA board and explain to them that people will not be happy about their HOA fees being wasted on lawyers for something that is so obviously out of their jurisdiction.

And then run for a seat on the HOA board and stop them from doing dumb stuff. That's what I did.
 
Dam young people with all their high tech gadgets taking over... Why can't they have cows and chickens like everybody else!


Know Your Rights - Arizona Solar Center


Howdy neighbor! I will enjoy your chickens provided I get some eggs. ;)

Pertinent AZ rules from that link:
B: is the hitch in the plan
 
Great place to live if you like being controlled.

I see it more as a great place to be to be able to control those who don't care about other peoples property values etc., rather than anyone controlling me. I wanted those HOA rules, and bought the place specifically because they had rules I liked. My whole time there was nothing but peace and quiet, without anyone doing crazy and annoying things. Those rules are great when you have people living right next to you. And as I said, when I was ready to do my own thing, I moved where my I can't even see my closest neighbor, and we can all do whatever we want without bothering anybody.
 
Wow, so of your HOA covenant was written in the 1970's and they thought to specify call out not allowing solar, that is old enough to be grandfathered in. Anything newer than 1980, all solar panel restrictions are void. That seems like it would have been written as a very small, very specific carve out. Hopefully, not where the OP lives.
 
Maybe you can provide some kind of positive incentive for the neighbors to approve ?

Something that makes their lives easier ?
That is what I tried, voluntarily, by offering to pay for vegetation that can obscure their view of the solar array. They have rejected it. They don't want me to have solar as it would be an "eyesore". I don't know what I can else I can offer to make their life easier. They are retired folks and probably set in their daily routine and don't want any changes that could affect their lives. It's funny that in their email to me they acknowledge that my offer is generous, but what if I move and the next owner would not take care of the vegetation. As if they themselves would not move!
 
I agree you should be allowed solar, and it's unacceptable to be denied. Now to sort what would be acceptable to neighbor/HOA. Does your HOA have an Architectural Controls Committee or similar building committee? Does your CCnR define precisely what relationship its rules have wrt city codes/permits? Lacking language, you may want to inform President of your intent, the research you've done thus far to be compliant with rules, and to mitigate neighbor concerns. I appreciate you going into this with eyes open, treat it as a challenge rather than adversarial, and you will succeed.
Yes, my HOA has an Architectural Controls Committee. I had to submit my building plans to them for approval before I started construction of our house. I did not think I would need their permission to install solar as long as I meet the County rules which I am trying to do. I was planning to submit my plans to the HOA after the county has issued permits as I might need to make changes to the plans to meet all county requirements.

I appreciate your advice that I should treat this as a challenge rather than adversarial. I totally agree with you. This issue is temporary. We have to live as neighbors over a long period and it won't help to treat them as adversaries.
 
Why rapid shutdown modules? They aren't required on ground mount. Why not roof mount?
We have a hip roof and not enough area of the roof is facing South. If we do roof mount, we decided it would look very ugly as the solar tiles will need to be installed in East, South and West sides making it not very efficient. Also, we don't like the idea of making a lot of holes in the roof of our brand new home. Our neighbors would have to endure a much bigger eyesore than if we do a ground mount the way I am planning to do now.
 
“It depends”

I am going through zoning now for my ground mount. They consider a ground mount array as an accessory structure so I have to meet certain criteria for approvals. I also have to have a 50’ setback, but I’m requesting a variance to build within 18’ of the side property line due to best sun exposure and the surrounding trees.
That is good to know. How do you apply for a variance? Will your neighbor agree? My neighbor does not want me to do it even at 40' distance (or anywhere) from my property boundary.
 
My ground array is set back from property line more than required and edge below fence and…. I kept it a shallow 17deg so its not in anyway intrusive to his views. When he looks out, over the array, he sees our far fence - same as prior to install. But yet he complains that he doesn't like the ‘industrial’ look of the panels. The ‘industrial’ comment is similar to what you report your neighbor said.

Personally, maybe lower the angle of you're planned array if appropriate to avoid a high angle, in your face situation but otherwise…. people just like to complain. For example, I could go on a rant about pool parties disturbing the quiet but a little consideration and live and let live is a better policy from my perspective.

This is my neighbor's view of my array from his porch. I don't believe this interferes with his view in any material way. The pic is from the house listing before my neighbor purchased....
View attachment 282744
That is crazy. Anybody can like or dislike anything and you can't force your neighbor to do things to suit you. What if you don't like the look of their pool? Would they remove the pool?
 
That is good to know. How do you apply for a variance? Will your neighbor agree? My neighbor does not want me to do it even at 40' distance (or anywhere) from my property boundary.
Your neighbor has already demonstrated their treachery, arrogance and ignorance when you offered an olive branch. At which point for me would be challenge accepted. I’d probably start to mess with their heads with disseminating some misleading info. Something like “Since you weren’t willing to work with us, we found out that it would actually be cheaper to run closer to the fence and install a tall opaque wall with a decorative opaque mural. And since we don’t want to look at your place, I’ll be planting a row of some fast growing trees”. Then pretend to accept a phone call from a contractor. “The backyard speaker system we decided to go with are the six grey boulders, oh don’t forget to add the timer so it can only work between 8AM and 10pm “ then just turn and walk away like they don’t matter.

Stay within the law and don’t let your disinformation prank get recorded. They go to complain and it’s “I don’t know what they are talking about, we’re going by the approved plan”. Which you no longer share with them. They’ll start to look like the loony people. There are some people who are only entertained by controlling and making others miserable. The only way to deal with those is to push back many fold in scale and instantaneously (shock and awe)
 
I completely understand why people have solar panels, but we also need to remember that they are really ugly.
I don't think they are ugly. I see them as beautiful. Maybe I'm just strange. But I have seen some colorful film covers, called "solar skins," for those who wish to change their look and don't mind a small reduction in efficiency in exchange for it.

 
I think on a roof may be more acceptable for folks in town, but I'd be sure to ask the council first because they can make you take it down plus their may have to be some permitting and inspections involved to make it safe and share in the county wealth.
And if you take a look at the solar skins I linked above, roof-mounted panels can be made to blend in with the roof. Think of these "skins" as camouflage for solar panels. If the HOA's reason for not allowing them on the roof has strictly to do with aesthetics, surely the skins might solve the problem.
 
That is what I tried, voluntarily, by offering to pay for vegetation that can obscure their view of the solar array. They have rejected it. They don't want me to have solar as it would be an "eyesore". I don't know what I can else I can offer to make their life easier. They are retired folks and probably set in their daily routine and don't want any changes that could affect their lives. It's funny that in their email to me they acknowledge that my offer is generous, but what if I move and the next owner would not take care of the vegetation. As if they themselves would not move!

What you offered is camouflage to hide the panels. That does not do anything to make their life easier.

You did not offer anything that personally benefits their lives, only to cover up the panels.

You did not offer for instance some of the electricity, or back up power during an outage. You didn't bring them any food or wine.

Consider to offer to build something for them that they personally want, such as a shed or similar.
 
And if you take a look at the solar skins I linked above, roof-mounted panels can be made to blend in with the roof. Think of these "skins" as camouflage for solar panels. If the HOA's reason for not allowing them on the roof has strictly to do with aesthetics, surely the skins might solve the problem.
Yap, I'd be happy with them as long as they performed well.
 
Yes, my HOA has an Architectural Controls Committee. I had to submit my building plans to them for approval before I started construction of our house. I did not think I would need their permission to install solar as long as I meet the County rules which I am trying to do. I was planning to submit my plans to the HOA after the county has issued permits as I might need to make changes to the plans to meet all county requirements.

I appreciate your advice that I should treat this as a challenge rather than adversarial. I totally agree with you. This issue is temporary. We have to live as neighbors over a long period and it won't help to treat them as adversaries.
You're welcome..success is sweetest when others are brought along, so don't take offense or become intransigent upon every challenge.

It really isn't one before the other, but a tandem thing...the ACC should be made aware of your project, that it has been submitted to the permit process at the county and ask for their guidance moving forward. Like your house plans, they will want copies of everything (if they're the least bit competent) relating to this project, and they'll likely submit for discussion at their next meeting, and possibly the full board at their following meeting. I would only mention your AZ rights that Bob posted and I mentioned above if you received any pushback, and in that unlikely event (since we see no mention of specific language preventing you from doing the project in your CCnR's) they would be geared towards resolving the neighbor's objection, and have to default to the aesthetic nuisance language, if it exists. That is the power of the AZ rights, in that no one can make it costly onerous, beyond a reasonable accommodation, towards satisfying the neighbor's 'blight' concern. Hiding with a hedge you maintain would be seen as a reasonable accommodation, when seen through the eyes of any AHJ/authority. You are already on the correct path, IMHO. :cool:
 

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