160D-914. Solar collectors.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, no local government development regulation shall prohibit, or have the effect of prohibiting, the installation of a solar collector that gathers solar radiation as a substitute for traditional energy for water heating, active space heating and cooling, passive heating, or generating electricity for a residential property, and no person shall be denied permission by a local government to install a solar collector that gathers solar radiation as a substitute for traditional energy for water heating, active space heating and cooling, passive heating, or generating electricity for a residential property. As used in this section, the term "residential property" means property where the predominant use is for residential purposes.
(b) This section does not prohibit a development regulation regulating the location or screening of solar collectors as described in subsection (a) of this section, provided the regulation does not have the effect of preventing the reasonable use of a solar collector for a residential property.
(c) This section does not prohibit a development regulation that would prohibit the location of solar collectors as described in subsection (a) of this section that are visible by a person on the ground and that are any of the following:
(1) On the facade of a structure that faces areas open to common or public access.
(2) On a roof surface that slopes downward toward the same areas open to common or public access that the facade of the structure faces.
(3) Within the area set off by a line running across the facade of the structure extending to the property boundaries on either side of the facade, and those areas of common or public access faced by the structure.
(d) In any civil action arising under this section, the court may award costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the prevailing party. (2019-111, s. 2.4; 2020-3, s. 4.33(a); 2020-25, s. 51(a), (b), (d).)
Structure North Carolina General Statutes
North Carolina General Statutes
Chapter 160D - Local Planning and Development Regulation
Article 9 - Regulation of Particular Uses and Areas.
§ 160D-901 - Regulation of particular uses and areas.
§ 160D-902 - Adult businesses.
§ 160D-903 - Agricultural uses.
§ 160D-905 - Amateur radio antennas.
§ 160D-907 - Family care homes.
§ 160D-909 - Fraternities and sororities.
§ 160D-910 - Manufactured homes.
§ 160D-912 - Outdoor advertising.
§ 160D-913 - Public buildings.
§ 160D-914 - Solar collectors.
§ 160D-915 - Temporary health care structures.
§ 160D-916 - Streets and transportation.
§ 160D-920 - Local environmental regulations.
§ 160D-921 - Forestry activities.
§ 160D-922 - Erosion and sedimentation control.
§ 160D-923 - Floodplain regulations.
§ 160D-924 - Mountain ridge protection.
§ 160D-925 - Stormwater control.
§ 160D-926 - Water supply watershed management.
§ 160D-930 - Purpose and compliance with federal law.
§ 160D-934 - Collocation and eligible facilities requests of wireless support structures.
§ 160D-935 - Collocation of small wireless facilities.
§ 160D-936 - Use of public right-of-way.
§ 160D-937 - Access to city utility poles to install small wireless facilities.
§ 160D-940 - Legislative findings.
§ 160D-941 - Historic preservation commission.
§ 160D-942 - Powers of the historic preservation commission.
§ 160D-944 - Designation of historic districts.
§ 160D-945 - Designation of landmarks.
§ 160D-946 - Required landmark designation procedures.
§ 160D-947 - Certificate of appropriateness required.
§ 160D-948 - Certain changes not prohibited.
§ 160D-949 - Delay in demolition of landmarks and buildings within historic district.
§ 160D-950 - Demolition by neglect to contributing structures outside local historic districts.
§ 160D-951 - Conflict with other laws.
§ 160D-960 - Powers and duties of commission.