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California has
adopted a number of laws that promote solar energy technologies.
Below are summaries of the existing laws and links to the
actual California Code language. M C Solar Engineering provides
the following for information purposes only and recommends
that interested parties consult with an attorney to determine
the applicability of any of the listed solar laws.
California Solar Energy System
Credit
2005
FTB form 3508 
General assistance on filing
for the solar tax credit:
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/renewable/tax_credit.html
Federal Investment Credit (Clean
Energy)
2002
IRS form 3468
2001
Instructions 3468
Property Tax Exemption for Solar Energy
Equipment
Section
73 of the Revenue and Taxation Code
exempts from property taxes the value of solar energy equipment.
For example, if you install a photovoltaic system worth $24,000
and your assessed property value is increased by that same
amount, you do not have to pay property taxes on the incremental
$24,000 in value attributable to the photovoltaic system.
California Solar Rights Act
Section
714 of the Civil Code
was enacted in 1978 to ensure that any covenant, restriction,
or condition contained in any deed or other contractual restriction,
which affects the sale or value of real property, does not
limit the installation or use of a solar energy system. For
more information, read
Summary
of the Solar Rights Act
Installation
Guidelines
The U.S. Department of Energy has published
a report to help homeowners understand their right to install
solar in planned communities.
Bringing Solar Energy to the
Planned Community: A Handbook on Rooftop Solar Systems and
Private Land Use Restrictions [DOE report]
Solar Easement Law
California
Civil Code Sections 801 & 801.5
provides for easements to ensure the right to receive sunlight
for any solar energy system. Please note that an easement
must be in place before a request can be made to address obstacles
to sunlight.
California SolarShade Control
Act
California
Public Resource Code Sections 25980-25986
provides limited protections against shading from vegetation
on adjacent properties.
To review the California Codes,
please see: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
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