Ohio Code 5301.63 – Solar access easement requirements
For the purpose of ensuring adequate access of solar energy collection devices to sunlight, any person may grant a solar access easement. Such easements shall be in writing and shall be subject to the same conveyance and recording requirements as other easements.
Terms Used In Ohio Code 5301.63
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures; this provision does not affect any law relating to signatures. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
Any instrument that grants a solar access easement shall include:
(A) A description of the real property burdened and benefited by the solar access easement;
(B) A description of the limits in heights, locations, or both, of permissible development on the burdened land in terms of structures, vegetation, or both, for the purpose of providing solar access for the benefited land;
(C) Any terms or conditions under which the solar access easement is granted or may be terminated;
(D) A term stating that the solar access easement runs with the land, unless terminated in accordance with the terms of the easement regarding termination, or unless otherwise agreed by the parties;
(E) Any other provisions necessary or desirable to execute the instrument.
The owner of the benefited land may prevent any obstruction of the solar access described in the solar access easement by any equitable remedy, and may maintain any action at law for any damages caused by any such obstruction.
Nothing in this section shall affect the status of any recorded easement to protect or ensure adequate access of solar energy collection devices to sunlight conveyed prior to the effective date of this section.