Solar Panels and Property Taxes

CrankyDoug · 09-08-18, 09:36 PM

Doing the math for panels purchased locally at about 45 cents a watt. I think I can get ROI in two years just using them to heat water. Of course that's not the most efficient way to do it but I could get started immediately and worry about the heat pumps and inverters next year.

But I wonder what will happen to my property taxes when the county sees the array on google earth. I bought an acre next to my place several years ago. They doubled the assessment when I cleared it. This year they raised it another 50% when the grass finally started looking like a lawn.

Are higher taxes inevitable if I put a solar array in my yard? I got taxed out of a home in Oregon 35 years ago - don't want to do it again.

OTOH, I think I can put 3-4KW on the roof of my travel trailer which is taxed at a fixed book rate. Suggestions?

jjackstone · 09-08-18, 11:20 PM

Build your frame on wheels. Tie it down with mobile home tie downs. Make sure all your grounding is done properly. Now it is a mobile unit as opposed to a permanent fixture. In many states there is no additional property tax on mobile/non-permanent structures.
JJ

u3b3rg33k · 09-09-18, 10:08 PM

many states have tax exemptions for solar. you should look into it and see if your state does this.

keeping land zoned a tax friendly way depends on how you use it. turn woods into lawn, they'll rezone it residential. put up a fence and put chickens on it, now it's agricultural, and will be zoned as such - bonus, you get fresh eggs from free range chickens.

09-08-18, 09:36 PM	#1
CrankyDoug Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 102 Thanks: 6 Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Solar Panels and Property Taxes Doing the math for panels purchased locally at about 45 cents a watt. I think I can get ROI in two years just using them to heat water. Of course that's not the most efficient way to do it but I could get started immediately and worry about the heat pumps and inverters next year. But I wonder what will happen to my property taxes when the county sees the array on google earth. I bought an acre next to my place several years ago. They doubled the assessment when I cleared it. This year they raised it another 50% when the grass finally started looking like a lawn. Are higher taxes inevitable if I put a solar array in my yard? I got taxed out of a home in Oregon 35 years ago - don't want to do it again. OTOH, I think I can put 3-4KW on the roof of my travel trailer which is taxed at a fixed book rate. Suggestions?

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09-08-18, 11:20 PM	#2
jjackstone Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sacramento,Ca Posts: 87 Thanks: 5 Thanked 32 Times in 23 Posts	Build your frame on wheels. Tie it down with mobile home tie downs. Make sure all your grounding is done properly. Now it is a mobile unit as opposed to a permanent fixture. In many states there is no additional property tax on mobile/non-permanent structures. JJ

09-09-18, 10:08 PM	#3
u3b3rg33k Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Rustbelt, USA Posts: 95 Thanks: 2 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	many states have tax exemptions for solar. you should look into it and see if your state does this. keeping land zoned a tax friendly way depends on how you use it. turn woods into lawn, they'll rezone it residential. put up a fence and put chickens on it, now it's agricultural, and will be zoned as such - bonus, you get fresh eggs from free range chickens.