Marin County – Solar Easement and Access Laws

Marin County’s Energy Conservation Code is designed to assure new subdivisions provide for future passive or natural heating or cooling opportunities in the subdivision to the extent feasible. Streets, lots, and building setbacks must be designed so that habitable buildings are oriented with their long axis running east to west (with a possible variation of thirty degrees to the southwest and thirty degrees to the southeast) for the purpose of solar access. The planning director or planning commission may require solar access easements or restrictive covenants to protect solar access.