SB 1254 also adds A.R.S. § 33-1816 to the Planned Community Act. This law applies only to planned communities. This new law provides that an association cannot prohibit the installation or use of a solar energy device. An association may adopt reasonable rules regarding the placement of a solar energy device so long as those rules do not…

(1) prevent the installation of the device;

(2) impair the functioning of the device;

(3) restrict its use; or

(4) adversely affect the cost or efficiency of the device.

Homeowners MUST STILL SUBMIT an architectural request form for solar panels and receive approval prior to installation.