[§196-7] Placement of solar energy devices. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no person shall be prevented by any covenant, term, provision, condition, codicil, or contract, however worded, from installing a solar energy device on any single-family residential dwelling or townhouse that the person owns. Any provision in any lease, instrument, or contract contrary to the intent of this section shall be void.

(b) For the purposes of this section, "solar energy device" means any identifiable facility, equipment, apparatus, or the like, including a photovoltaic cell application, that is applicable to a single-family residential dwelling or townhouse and makes use of solar energy for heating, cooling, or reducing the use of other types of energy dependent upon fossil fuel for generation. [L 1992, c 268, §1]