Arizona law (A.R.S. § 33-1816) prevents planned community HOAs from prohibiting solar energy devices, though associations may adopt reasonable rules about placement that do not impair the system’s function or significantly affect its cost or efficiency. In communities managed by Transcend Community Management, submit solar and exterior EV charger plans through the resident portal for architectural approval before installation.
Your solar rights in an Arizona HOA
With more than 300 sunny days a year and summer cooling bills that spike in July and August, solar is a natural fit for many Arizona homes. The legislature recognized that years ago. Under A.R.S. § 33-1816, a planned community association may not prohibit the installation or use of a solar energy device. The association may adopt reasonable rules regarding the placement of the device, as long as those rules do not impede its functioning or adversely affect its cost or efficiency.
In plain terms: your HOA generally cannot say no to solar, but it can have a say in how and where the system is installed. Condominium owners face different considerations because roofs are often common elements; review your condo documents and ask before contracting. Our overview of Arizona homeowner protections for flags, signs, solar and parking covers related rights. This is general information, not legal advice; your governing documents and an Arizona HOA attorney control.
What placement rules might apply?
- Panel layout on roof planes facing the street versus the rear, if it does not reduce production meaningfully
- Flush or low-profile mounting rather than tilted racks
- Concealed or painted conduit to match the home’s exterior
- Location of inverters, batteries and disconnects
- Ground-mounted arrays screened from view
- Contractor work hours, parking and debris rules
If a placement rule would make your system significantly less efficient or more expensive, raise it in writing with supporting information from your installer, such as production estimates for each layout.
How to get solar approved in a Transcend-managed community
- Get a proposal from your installer that includes a roof layout drawing, panel and racking specifications, conduit routing and equipment locations.
- Read your design guidelines in the resident portal for solar-specific requirements.
- Submit an architectural application through the portal with the installer’s drawings, photos of your roof and the equipment area, and the installer’s contact information. Start from our portal login page.
- Allow up to 30 days for review. Do not sign a final installation date until you have written approval.
- Install exactly as approved, and send us any changes before work is done.
The general process is explained step by step in how to submit an architectural request.
EV chargers: what to know
Electric vehicles are increasingly common across the Valley, and most owners charge at home. Whether you need HOA approval for an EV charger depends on where it goes and what your documents say:
| Installation | HOA approval? |
|---|---|
| Level 2 charger inside your garage, no exterior changes | Often not required, but check your guidelines |
| Exterior-mounted charger on a wall visible from the street | Usually requires architectural approval |
| New exterior conduit, panel upgrade or meter change visible outside | Usually requires architectural approval |
| Charger in a condo garage, carport or common parking area | Requires association approval and agreement on electricity and responsibility |
Unlike solar, Arizona does not have a well-known HOA statute guaranteeing EV charger installation in planned communities, so your documents and the board’s architectural standards govern. Electrical work also typically requires a city or county permit and a licensed contractor, which is separate from HOA approval.
Batteries, panel upgrades and utility interconnection
Many solar projects now include battery storage or a main electrical panel upgrade. Include those components in your application, since exterior-mounted batteries and new equipment can affect appearance and placement rules. Your installer will also handle interconnection with your utility, typically SRP or APS depending on where you live in the Valley, and some Pinal County areas are served by other providers. Utility approval and HOA approval are separate steps; you need both.
Maintenance, roofs and resale
Ask your installer about roof penetrations and warranty coverage, especially on tile roofs common in Arizona communities. Keep your approval letter and installation records. When you sell, buyers will ask whether the system is owned or leased and whether it was approved, and title may need lease information. See our guide to selling a home in an Arizona HOA.
Board members developing solar and EV guidelines can review our architectural review management service and the HOA rules and amendments guide.
Common questions from installers
Reputable solar and EV installers in the Phoenix area are used to HOA approvals and often prepare the drawings for you. Make sure the plans in your application match what will be installed, including the number of panels and the exact equipment locations. If your installer offers to submit on your behalf, you remain responsible for the application and for any conditions of approval, so review it before it goes in.
Frequently asked questions
Under A.R.S. § 33-1816, a planned community HOA may not prohibit solar energy devices, but it may adopt reasonable placement rules that do not impair function or significantly affect cost or efficiency.
Often not if nothing changes on the exterior, but check your design guidelines. Exterior-mounted chargers and visible conduit usually need architectural approval.
Architectural review can take up to 30 days. Submit a complete application with installer drawings to avoid delays.
No. HOA approval, city or county permits and utility interconnection are separate steps, and your installer usually handles the permit and utility paperwork.
