Solar Panels and EV Charging Stations at Churches
More congregations are adding rooftop solar and putting EV chargers in the parking lot, often funded by a grant or an energy contract. Both are good stewardship. Both also change the insurance picture in ways that are easy to miss, because the church usually tells the contractor and the utility long before it tells the insurance carrier.
The one thing to do first
Tell your carrier before installation, not after. Solar arrays and EV charging equipment change the insured value of the property, may change the roof warranty, and add a new liability exposure in the parking lot. An unreported installation can create a coverage dispute at claim time.
What changes on the policy
| Item | What it affects | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Rooftop solar array | Building value increases, sometimes substantially | Whether the array is insured as part of the building or scheduled separately, and who owns it |
| Ownership vs lease | Third party owned systems are common under power purchase agreements | If a vendor owns the panels, confirm in writing who insures them and who is responsible for roof damage |
| Roof condition and warranty | Penetrations can void a roof warranty | Get written confirmation the warranty survives, since a voided warranty shifts cost to the church |
| Wind and hail | Panels are exposed and can become debris | How the wind or hail deductible applies to the array, especially on the coast |
| EV chargers | Premises liability, electrical fire risk, equipment theft and vandalism | Whether chargers are covered property and whether public use changes the liability picture |
| Public charger access | Opens the lot to non members | Whether allowing public use affects your general liability terms |
The questions churches forget to ask
If a vendor owns the array under a power purchase agreement, the church often assumes the vendor carries everything. Sometimes true, sometimes not, and the gap usually sits in who pays when the roof beneath the panels leaks. Get the vendor's certificate of insurance, name the church as additional insured, and put the roof responsibility in writing.
On chargers, decide early whether they are for staff only, members only, or the public. Public access is fine, but it invites people onto the property at hours when nobody is there, which is a premises liability and security conversation, not just an electrical one. Lighting, surface condition, and signage all matter more once strangers are parking overnight.
Imagine a church that installs six panels' worth of array and a pair of chargers funded by a grant, and never updates the building limit. The property is now worth meaningfully more than the policy says, which is exactly the setup for a coinsurance problem on any large loss.
Common questions
Does church insurance cover rooftop solar panels?
Usually yes once reported, either as part of the building value or scheduled separately. The array must be disclosed, and ownership matters if a vendor owns the system.
Do EV chargers increase church liability?
They can, particularly if the public is allowed to use them, because that brings visitors onto the property outside normal hours. Lighting, surface maintenance, and signage become more important.
Who insures solar panels under a power purchase agreement?
It depends on the contract. Get the vendor's certificate of insurance, have the church named as additional insured, and confirm in writing who is responsible for roof damage.
Can solar panels void a church roof warranty?
Yes, penetrations can void some warranties. Get written confirmation from the roofing manufacturer or installer before the array goes on.
If you would like a second opinion on whether a solar or EV project is properly reflected on your policy, contact us for a free church risk assessment.
Contact Hale Street Insurance at 978.712.0111 or [email protected] for a free church insurance review. You can also visit our church insurance page or request a quote to get started.
Jake Lubinski is the founder of Hale Street Insurance and a licensed insurance broker with years of church board and stewardship experience. Based in Boxford, MA he works with churches throughout Massachusetts and the US to build insurance and risk programs designed around how ministry actually operates. Reach Jake at [email protected] or 978.712.0111.
Related reading: Church Property Valuation | Church Roof and Steeple Maintenance | Church Parking Lot Liability | Contractor and Vendor Certificates
