SUNBEAM INNOVATIONS
For many Houston homeowners, the biggest hurdle to going solar isn't the cost or the weather—it is the Homeowners Association (HOA). Houston has thousands of master-planned communities with strict deed restrictions and Architectural Review Committees (ARCs). It is incredibly common for homeowners to assume their HOA will automatically deny a solar installation. But what does the law actually say?
In Texas, the law is firmly on the side of the homeowner. Under Texas Property Code Section 202.010, an HOA cannot explicitly prohibit or restrict a property owner from installing a solar energy device. If your HOA's bylaws say "No Solar Panels Allowed," that specific bylaw is legally unenforceable in the state of Texas.
While an HOA cannot ban solar outright, they do have some limited regulatory power. They can require that the panels be installed on the roof rather than in the yard, and they can request that the panels do not extend higher than the roofline. They can also require that the wiring be hidden or painted to match the roof. However, if their requested aesthetic changes cause the system's estimated energy production to drop by more than 10%, the HOA cannot legally enforce those changes.
You don't have to fight your HOA alone. SunBeam Innovations handles the entire ARC approval process for you. We provide the comprehensive 3D engineering designs, spec sheets, and legal documentation required to push your project through your specific Houston HOA board effortlessly.
Our engineers will build a custom solar blueprint engineered for your operation — backed by 30-year linear warranties and Tier-1 equipment.
