Pathway 5.

Electricity Decarbonization → Distributed Renewable Energy

5.2.18 Protecting Solar Access Rights

LPDD Recommendation: “Congress or States should enact solar access protection statutes.”

LPDD Recommendation: “Local governments should enact zoning codes that prospectively protect some degree of solar access rights for lots and that provide alternatives for high-density dwellers to have access to solar power.”

7 Resources Found, Displaying 1 thru 7

Ashland OR’s solar access permit law

Jurisdiction: Local Governments

Establishes a procedure for a obtaining a solar access permit to protect a solar energy system from vegetation that would shade the collector.

Massachusetts laws on solar easements and solar access rights

Jurisdiction: State Legislatures

Provides conditions for creating a solar easement and provides municipal governments with authority and guidance on the varieties of zoning amendments that could be adopted to protect solar access rights.

California’s 1978 Solar Shade Control Act

Jurisdiction: State Legislatures

Addresses shading from vegetation, but not from constructed obstructions.

Wyoming’s 1981 Solar Rights Act

Jurisdiction: State Legislatures

Employs a prior appropriation regime and address shading from both human obstructions and from vegetation.

New Mexico’s Solar Rights Act

Jurisdiction: State Legislatures

Employs a prior appropriation regime and address shading from both human obstructions and from vegetation.

A Comprehensive Review of Solar Access Law in the United States

Jurisdiction: States and State Governments

Authored by Solar America Board for Codes and Standards.

ABA Model Solar Access Law

Jurisdiction: States and State Governments

Covers all forms of solar energy and sources of obstruction.