New ‘relaxed regulations’ could mean more solar panels in Sun City. Here’s what changed
Solar panels may be installed on a lot more Sun City Hilton Head homes soon, thanks to a revision of what some residents called “outdated” community association guidelines.
Sun City’s board of directors announced the “relaxed regulations” for the placement of solar panels in a Tuesday news release. The change allows residents whose homes face lagoons and golf courses to install solar panels on the side and rear roofs, which was previously not allowed.
The board unanimously approved the revision to the Sun City Hilton Head’s Design Guidelines, which outlines a set of standards for exterior house appearance and curb appeal, to support residents’ “desires to make personal choices to live environmentally friendly lifestyles,” the release said.
The decision came after a survey of residents late last year showed “overwhelming support” for more lenient rules on solar panel placement.
Sun City’s Global Climate Change Group had been advocating to change the guidelines since the 2019 Earth Day celebration last April, where members brainstormed ways residents could combat climate change, member David Smith told The Island Packet.
Installing solar panels on homes seemed to be the biggest, simple action residents could take, he said, adding that the group then started a petition calling for revisions to the installation guidelines. The petition garnered more than 300 signatures.
After initial hesitation from the board of directors, the group met with board members to present the petition and their ideas, with the backing of S.C. Sen. Tom Davis, Smith said. That led to the survey being sent out.
According to survey results Smith shared, more than 2,600 homeowners responded to the questionnaire. Of those responses, more than 70% of residents favor allowing solar power installations on the rear roofs of homes facing lagoons and golf courses, as well as on the side roofing of homes.
He said the board opposed including questions on the survey about street views or front of home placements.
As of last year, only about 20 homes out of the 8,500 in Sun City had solar panels, Smith said.
Six applications for solar panels have been submitted since the change, and five have been approved thus far, Jean McElroy, executive assistant to Sun City Hilton Head’s general manager, said Tuesday.
“We expect our owners to continue to take advantage of this change in Sun City Hilton Head’s Design Guidelines,” she said.
Several months before the guideline revisions, Smith, who moved here from Massachusetts with his wife about 18 months ago, had applied to install solar panels on his home, which faces a lagoon. He was denied.
He recently resubmitted the application, and his was one of the first to be approved, he said. The solar panels on his home are expected to be installed in early March.
“We appreciate our board’s willingness to listen to the residents and adapt accordingly,” Smith said. He said the climate group hopes its success will encourage residents in other communities with restrictive solar power rules to work with their HOAs to update their guidelines.
Sun City residents interested in installing solar panels are required to undergo an application process for exterior home modifications.
