Florida Statute, Section 163.04

Energy devices based on renewable resources.-

(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or other provision of general or special law, the adoption of an ordinance by a governing body, as those terms are defined in this chapter, which prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable resources is expressly prohibited.

(2) No deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements running with the land shall prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable resources from being installed on buildings erected on the lots or parcels covered by the deed restrictions, covenants, or binding agreements. A property owner may not be denied permission to install solar collectors or other energy devices based on renewable resources by any entity granted the power or right in any deed restriction, covenant, or similar binding agreement to approve, forbid, control, or direct alteration of property with respect to residential dwellings not exceeding three stories in height. For purposes of this subsection, such entity may determine the specific location where solar collectors may be installed on the roof within an orientation to the south or within 45 ° east or west of due south provided that such determination does not impair the effective operation of the solar collectors.

(3) In any litigation arising under the provisions of this section, the prevailing party shall be entitled to costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.

(4) The legislative intent in enacting these provisions is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by encouraging the development and use of renewable resources in order to conserve and protect the value of land, buildings, and resources by preventing the adoption of measures which will have the ultimate effect, however unintended, of driving the costs of owning and operating commercial or residential property beyond the capacity of private owners to maintain. This section shall not apply to patio railings in condominiums, cooperatives, or apartments.

History.-s. 8, ch. 80-163; s. 1, ch. 92-89; s. 14, ch. 93-249.

It is immoral and insufferable to use as wasteful an appliance as a clothesdryer in my region. As for the aesthetics, if you can’t stand the sight of whatever is in my yard, AVERT YOUR EYES. Your right to not ever see anything you think is ugly stops at my property line.

I don’t know where I was when it suddenly became an inalienable right to expect to never be offended by anything. We have all sorts of actual political rights, and last time I looked, that was not one of them.

I promise that I will never ever buy in an association that has rules prohibiting residents from making use of free energy. I will not suffer anyone to tell me what kind of furnishings I must have or must not have. They will never be allowed to dictate whether I can keep animals. They will never be allowed to dictate what kinds of plants I can grow.

In return, I will not waste energy and I will not water the sidewalk. I will not use annoying leaf blowers or other power tools that pollute. I am competent with a broom and rake, and there is no reason these tools should not be the tools of choice. I will not pour hazardous materials down any drain. All these little decisions add up to a big lifestyle choice- make mine clean, sustainable, and manually powered whenever feasible.

I presently live off-the-grid more than 20 miles from the nearest town. YAY, all the beautiful people can kiss my ring. In the immortal words of Frank Zappa, ” There are a lot more of us ugly m———–s out here than you.”