Outdated CC&Rs Block EV Charger and Solar Panel Installation Despite State Laws

Homeowners in HOA communities who try to install EV chargers or solar panels are denied because their CC&Rs — often written in the 1980s or 1990s — contain blanket prohibitions on exterior modifications, electrical work, or anything that changes the building's appearance. Even in states like California that have passed 'right to charge' and 'Solar Rights Act' laws overriding HOA restrictions, boards still deny applications by citing aesthetic requirements, demanding expensive engineering studies, or requiring the homeowner to carry $1M+ in additional liability insurance. The homeowner then must either comply with unreasonable conditions, abandon the project, or hire a lawyer to enforce their state-law rights. The structural problem is that amending CC&Rs typically requires a supermajority vote (67-75% of all owners), which is nearly impossible to achieve given chronic voter apathy. So documents drafted before EVs and rooftop solar existed continue to govern communities for decades.