As you know, an air conditioner is a very common device that helps us spend the hottest months of the year indoors. However, this system doesn’t just consist of the device that mounts to the wall of a living room, bedroom, or office; it typically requires another device with an outlet to the outside.
Sometimes, the only possible place to locate this second device of the system is the facade of a building , and this is when legal doubts begin to arise about whether it is possible to place it unilaterally or you must ask permission from the community (or even the local council) for its installation in a visible common area.
Is it necessary to ask for permission?
Residential communities are governed by the Horizontal Property Law. This ruling includes some regulations that you must take into account when installing an air conditioning unit.
Some neighbors might disagree with you installing the splitter on the facade, citing noise, aesthetic, or structural issues . This is where the bureaucratic problems begin . For this reason, it’s important to be familiar with both the community’s regulations and local laws to avoid any potential conflicts.
City council regulations
Each municipality has its own legislation regarding the installation of elements on the exterior facades of buildings. Depending on the city you’re in, the local council may have difficulty installing a split system for various reasons:
- Noise pollution : Excessive noise could disturb your neighbors.
- Because it is a historical façade or one of cultural interest.
- Aesthetic and visual problems.
- Environmental protection.
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Regulation
Local regulations may establish a series of measures to ensure that all residents who decide to install an air conditioning system on their façade comply with certain parameters. These may include, for example, where the unit should be located, the distance it must maintain from other elements, or how far it can protrude from the wall to the exterior.
Do you also have to ask permission from the community of neighbors?
The answer is clear: yes . Depending on the neighborhood community you’re in, you may have more or less problems obtaining this permit, but you should always take into account the bylaws and neighborhood regulations.
All of these communities are governed by the Horizontal Property Law , which, in its Article 7.2 , prohibits the installation of individual elements on the façade, especially when it could cause a nuisance to a neighbor. Furthermore, the bylaws of each community usually include this measure. As a general rule, three different scenarios arise :
- Express permission for the installation of air conditioning systems on the façade.
- Prohibition on placing the device on the facade.
- That it is not pronounced and, therefore, is neither expressly permitted nor prohibited.
What happens if the statutes do not reflect this?
When neighborhood regulations don’t clarify whether installing a device on a facade is prohibited or permitted, a decision must be made by vote at a neighborhood meeting . In this case, you’ll need the approval of a majority of the owners to proceed with the installation.
Purchasing a home air conditioning system is a very attractive and recommendable option, but it can be somewhat cumbersome if you need to install it on the facade of a residential building. Once you have permission from your city council and the other building owners, you can proceed with the installation and enjoy a pleasant and comfortable summer.