Bring on the Sun

by Osman Parvez
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Beginning today, a revised statue goes into effect extending and clarifying your rights to install renewable energy devices in Colorado, even in HOA governed communities. A previous law from the 1970's applying to solar panels has been extended to wind generators. Most interestingly, the new law defines "energy efficiency structures" that cannot be banned outright by HOAs, including

• Awnings, shutters, trellis, ramadas, or other shade structures.
• A garage or attic fan and any associated vents or louvers
• An evaporative cooler ("swamp cooler")
• An energy-efficient outdoor lighting system such as those that use fluorescent bulbs, solar recharging panels, motion detectors, etc
• A retractable clothesline

The law makes it clear that HOAs can still make rules based on aesthetics but cannot ban these things outright. I suspect HOAs will now have to deal with a few things they didn't previously allow. For all those owners whose HOA won't allow a clothesline in the backyard, it looks that that has just changed. Here's more details on HB 1270.

note: The law does NOT allow residents to install structures on property they do not own, including leased or "common property" of an HOA.

image: trojej


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