When Solar Rights Fall Through the Cracks: The Challenge for Residents in Master-Metered Mobile Home Parks

Earlier this year, new legislation went into effect in California addressing mobile home ownership and tenant rights. Unfortunately, the law left a key issue unresolved: solar access for tenants and owners in master-metered mobile home parks.

Under current rules, these residents do not fall neatly under the state’s standard solar rights protections. This gap means that when park management denies a resident’s solar installation request, the resident’s ability to challenge that denial through a traditional “solar rights” claim is limited.

In my view, this exclusion undermines the intent of California’s broader clean energy and housing equity goals. Residents in master-metered parks—who already face unique barriers to homeownership and energy independence—are effectively locked out of the benefits of solar adoption.

Potential Strategies to Challenge a Denied Solar Application

While the law may not yet provide a clear path forward under standard solar rights provisions, there are a few alternative legal and strategic routes that residents might consider:

1. Conversion Proposal

One possible (though complex) strategy would be to pursue a conversion program—a process that transitions a park from a master-metered system to direct utility service for each unit. This approach would allow homeowners to work directly with the utility company, eliminating the park’s control over electrical infrastructure. However, it requires substantial buy-in from multiple residents and can be a lengthy, technical process.

2. Breach of Contract Claim

If the lease agreement guarantees a tenant’s right to free and fair use of their home and lot, a denial of a solar installation might be argued as a breach of contract.
This would hinge on the specific language of the lease and whether it allows reasonable modifications that don’t interfere with park operations.

3. Compliance Check: California PUC Section 739.5

California Public Utilities Code Section 739.5 sets rules for how master-metered mobile home parks must distribute and bill for electricity. If park management isn’t following these regulations, a resident could file a complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Consumer Affairs Branch. Even the prospect of CPUC scrutiny can sometimes prompt park management to reconsider their stance.

4. Local Property Codes and Solar Ordinances

Finally, residents should look into local jurisdiction property codes. Some cities or counties have adopted their own solar access ordinances that could offer additional protections. These local rules can sometimes fill the gap left by state law.

The Bigger Picture

California has made major strides in promoting renewable energy, but the situation for residents of master-metered mobile home parks reveals a serious oversight. These communities are often among the most energy-burdened in the state, yet they face structural barriers to participating in the clean energy transition.

Until state policymakers close this legal loophole, affected residents will need to rely on creative legal and administrative strategies to assert their right to access solar power.

In short: while recent legislation has made progress, it still leaves some Californians in the shade.

You can get a full summary of Californian's rights to install solar in common interest developments and mobile home parks in our CleanTech Docs: Overview of the  Solar & Common-Interest Developments: Overview of Rules and Regulations (CA)