Rooftop solar panels are becoming more and more prevalent these days. I'm seeing them pop up on more homes in my neighborhood all the time.
In California, the sun doesn't shine straight down at any time of the year. The line-of-sight from my roof to the sun usually goes over several neighboring properties. Which begs the question, will the sun always shine on my panels? What if my neighbor lets his trees grow so tall that they shade my roof? What if they add a second story to their house and now my panels don't get the same amount of sunlight as before?
If you're planning a solar installation - or have one already - and you're concerned about possible issues with future sunlight access, you may want to check into arranging and recording "solar easements" with pertinent neighbors. A solar easement is an agreement whereby one property owner would receive assurances from another that the sunlight which travels over the neighbor's property would always be available. The neighbor, and all subsequent owners, would be restricted in building or planting trees which could obstruct the sunlight.
It is important, of course, that all solar easements be officially recorded, just as other uses and conditions are included in public records. Otherwise, such an easement might not be noted during the title search at the time of a real estate sale. Such an omission could create serious problems at a later date when the new owners decide to make structural or landscape changes that would affect the path of sunlight across their property.
Don't be left in the dark (literally) tomorrow for failing to plan ahead today. Click here to read a more in-depth article.
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