NC H842

Voids and makes unenforceable any deed restrictions, covenants, or agreements that prohibit installation of solar collectors on residential properties for water heating, space heating and cooling, passive heating, or electricity generation.

Excludes condominiums in multi-story buildings with horizontal unit boundaries from protections under this section.

Permits deed restrictions that regulate the location or screening of solar collectors only if such regulations do not reduce operating efficiency by more than 10 percent from the solar collector's original specifications.

Allows restrictions on solar collectors visible from common or public areas, including on building facades, roof surfaces sloping toward public access areas, or within sight lines from public areas.

Requires recorded written agreements between property owners and owners' associations to establish liability, indemnification, and maintenance responsibilities for solar collectors, with courts authorized to award costs and attorney fees to prevailing parties in disputes.