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Thinking about adding solar panels to your Florida townhouse? Good news—you can. But there’s a catch. While Florida law protects your right to install solar at your Tampa townhouse, Homeowners Associations (HOAs) still have a say in how it happens. So, you’ll likely need to jump through a few hoops before getting the green light. Here’s what you need to know:

Florida Law Is on Your Side

Florida isn’t just the Sunshine State in name—it’s one of the best places in the country for solar energy. And thanks to the Florida Solar Rights Act (FSRA), your HOA cannot outright ban you from installing solar panels.

But here’s where it gets tricky. HOAs can enforce reasonable restrictions on placement and appearance. That means your HOA may try to dictate where your panels go, how they look, and whether they’re visible from the street.

HOA Rules: What They Can (And Can’t) Do

Wondering what your HOA can and can’t do regarding your decision to switch to solar? Your HOA can:

• Require that your panels be installed in a way that blends with the roof’s aesthetics.
• Suggest placement locations—as long as they don’t make your system inefficient.
• Have an approval process for solar installations.

Your HOA cannot:

• Ban solar panels outright.
• Force you to put them in a location that reduces their effectiveness.
• Demand that you conceal them in a way that adds cost or lowers performance.

Florida law ensures that solar panels must be allowed within 45 degrees east or west of due south, meaning you can maximize energy production no matter what your HOA says.

Townhouse vs. Condo: Know the Difference

Not all attached housing is the same when it comes to solar rights. You need to know whether you’re truly in a townhouse or a condo.

• If you live in a townhouse, you own the roof, meaning solar is an option (as long as you follow HOA guidelines).
• If you live in a condo, the roof is considered shared property, and installing solar panels may require full HOA board approval or a legal agreement with other owners.

Townhouse owners have more freedom when it comes to solar—but you still need HOA approval before starting the installation process.

Steps for Getting HOA Approval for Solar Panels

Wondering how you can get the approval for solar panels from your HOA? Here’s our guide on getting the process started:

1. Read Your HOA’s Covenants & Guidelines: Check your community’s rules to see if they outline specific solar policies.
2. Work With a Solar Provider Who Knows HOA Rules: Solar Bear of Tampa has experience handling HOA approvals, making the process much smoother.
3. Submit Your Application: Most HOAs require a formal request with design plans, which your solar provider can help prepare.
4. Push Back (If Needed): If your HOA denies your request in a way that violates Florida law, you can challenge it. In some cases, legal assistance may be necessary.

Yes, You Can Go Solar in a Townhouse—Call Us to Get Started

Florida law is on your side. Your Tampa HOA may have some say in how your system looks, but they can’t stop you from installing panels that actually work. So, want to cut your electric bill and power your home with the Florida sun? Solar Bear of Tampa can help you tackle the HOA approval process and install a system that works for you. Get started today by calling us at (727) 471-7442—your townhouse is ready for solar!

You might not think to take care of your solar panels when you’re not using them. Why would you need to, anyway? Well, you’re probably here because you heard that solar panels can degrade when you let them sit around unused. You want the truth, and we’re here to give you an answer! Learn more about solar care and how you can reach out to Solar Bear Tampa for professional solar panel maintenance in your area.

The Hard Truth? Yes, Solar Panels Degrade When Inactive. Here’s Why:

When you’re not using your solar panels, you might not have considered taking them down and locking them away in storage. That would seem like too much work and not worth the effort. It’s common for Tampa homeowners to leave their solar panels installed on their roofs when they’re not using them for that very reason, but that leaves them exposed to all sorts of things that can cause them to degrade faster than they should.

Here’s what can happen when your solar panels are left unused:

• They can corrode with exposure to rain, snow, ice, and extreme temperatures
• The panels and frames can degrade with frequent expansion and contraction
• Heat and UV rays can overload the system with nowhere for the energy to go
• Over time, voltage leaks can affect their ability to route electricity
• Hail or falling debris can physically damage the surface

Become a responsible solar panel owner by learning more about solar panel systems from Solar Bear Tampa!

How Fast Do Solar Panels Degrade? Solar panel degradation isn’t something that happens necessarily fast, but it’s something that is easily overlooked. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, solar panels typically degrade by about 0.5% a year. When under poor care, they can degrade much faster than that.

Best Practices For Preserving Your Solar Panels

Now that you know the consequences of leaving your solar panels unused, let’s learn how to keep them in peak condition! One of the best things you can do for your solar panels when you’re not using them in Tampa is to shield them with a cover. There are covers specially made for solar panels that are designed to keep out UV rays and absorb light impact.

Don’t plan on using your solar panels for a long, long time? Uninstalling them from your roof and tucking them away in a dark, dry place can keep them preserved until you’re ready to use them again. Just be sure to cover them up nicely so they won’t degrade from dust, moisture, or extreme temps.

Ask your local solar panel installer in Tampa about available manufacturer warranties covering degradation due to weather or prolonged performance.

Need Solar Maintenance? Leave It to Solar Bear Tampa!

Solar Bear Tampa is the trusted choice for solar panel installation near you, but we don’t stop there. We’re also available when you need us for solar panel maintenance and repairs in your area! Call us today at (727) 471-7442 to book an appointment and ask for a free estimate on your next solar service.

At Solar Bear Orlando, we often get asked about how much energy most homes use, and we get it! Understanding how much power your home uses and how that translates into megawatts is an important aspect of going solar.

Why? Because choosing the right-sized solar system for your home starts with knowing your energy needs, and we’re excited to help you with that!

Understanding Your Home’s Power Usage

On average, most homes in the United States use about 10,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year. One megawatt (MW) is equal to 1,000 kilowatts, so this translates to 10.5 megawatts a year.

Of course, this is a generalization, and your home’s specific usage depends largely on several factors, including:

• Size of Your Home: Larger homes require more electricity to run. Simple, right?
• Climate: Homes in warmer climates like ours here in Orlando use more electricity because air conditioning is necessary most of the year.
• Number of People in the Home: The more people that live in a home, the more appliance usage there is.
• Appliances: The number and type of appliances that are used can have a big impact on how much electricity is used.

Now that you know what factors into your home’s energy usage and a general average of how much electricity a home uses, let’s discuss some tips to effectively power your home with solar energy.

Assess Your Energy Needs

We recommend reviewing your past electricity bills to get a better understanding of your monthly energy consumption. This will help you decide how many solar panels you will need in your system.

Calculate Your Solar Requirements

Once you understand your home’s energy usage, you can determine the size of your solar array. Don’t worry; we are here to help with that as well, but keep in mind that each kilowatt of solar panel will typically produce about 1,200 to 1,500 kWh annually.

Consider Future Needs

Things around the home often change, and you may want to account for these home updates. If you plan to charge a solar vehicle or add appliances or a solar pool heater to your home, we recommend sizing your system accordingly.

Consult Professionals

Of course, you don’t have to do all this calculating alone! Our team at Solar Bear Orlando is here to help and can complete a thorough assessment of your home to ensure your solar system is right-sized for your needs.

Read More > What Are My Options for Residential Solar?

Ready to Go Solar?

If you are ready to install a solar system at your Orlando home or business, what are you waiting for? With a little bit of energy usage calculation and the help of our team, you’ll be well on your way to installing solar panels and gaining energy independence!

For any questions or to get started on your solar journey, reach out to our friendly team at Solar Bear Orlando at (727) 471-7442. We’re here to help you harness the power of the sun!

The first step in getting solar panels is figuring out how many you need. If you don’t know a single thing about solar energy, you won’t have the faintest idea of what to get for your home. Solar Bear Orlando is here to help you make an informed decision starting with real statistics for Florida’s average kWh per day for reference. For an accurate estimate of how much solar energy you need, ask us about running a test on your home!

Kilowatt-Hour (kWh) 101

Energy usage is measured by kilowatt-hours, more often referred to as a kWh. This is the unit you’ll always see when looking up anything to do with energy-saving appliances or usage, so it’s best to start familiarizing yourself with this particular abbreviation. A kWh translates to a thousand watts in one hour, exactly.

Let’s take a real-life example:

Say your TV uses 200 watts of electricity and you watch it around 4 hours a day. That means it’s using up 0.8 kWh in your household.

Your home’s kWh is unique to your style of living, including the type of appliances you have, how many you own, and how often you use them each day. Tracking everything yourself can be a challenge which is why solar experts in Orlando have ways of doing the math for you.

Florida kWh Usage Statistics

The average energy usage in America sits at around 30 kWh a day. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Florida uses around 40 kWh which is much more than the country-wide average. No surprises there, considering hot spots like Orlando deal with generally warmer climates throughout the year.

Learn more > Solar Usage By House Size: Our Guide

Why Florida Uses More kWh

Because of Florida’s warmer and humid climate, residents are constantly working their air conditioners. It’s already been proven that HVACs are the main contributors to home energy usage, so it makes sense that a homeowner in Orlando would have a higher monthly kWh than most other cities across the country. This is precisely why it’s worth it to go solar in Florida in 2025.

Reduce Your Household’s kWh Usage With These Tips:

There’s proof that Florida uses more energy than most of the U.S., but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least try to lower your own home’s kWh. Try these energy-saving tricks that homeowners in Orlando use to lower their electric bills:

The most effective way to save on energy in Orlando, FL is by installing solar panels. This might seem like the obvious route, but there’s no denying the results!

Another way to save energy is by upgrading to energy-efficient appliances like those with the approved Energy Star logo. These appliances are designed to lower your home’s average kWh.

To cut down on energy usage with a more efficient air conditioner, installing spray foam insulation with air-sealing qualities can help keep your home at ideal temperatures.

Promote a More Energy-Efficient Home With Solar Bear Orlando!

Meet your home’s average kWh with expert solar panel installation from Solar Bear Orlando! We can inspect your home’s estimated usage and recommend just enough panels to cover what you need. Call (727) 471-7442 today to get started or to ask about our available financing options so you can go solar without breaking the bank.