The European Union depends on imports for 70% of its fossil fuels. For that reason is facing a major energy challenge. Issues of energy independence, economic stability and environmental protection pressure the European Union to step up its transition to a low carbon economy. Construction and operation of buildings belong to the biggest consumers of primary materials, energy resources and environment pollutants. It is a well known fact that buildings in highly developed countries are responsible for about 30 to 40% of the total energy consumption. They have also the same share in production of carbon dioxide, waste and other pollutants. Sustainable methods of building design and construction have the potential to provide solutions to many of the economic, social and environmental challenges that Europe is facing today. The use of renewable energy sources in architectural designing, above all solar energy, represents a huge potential for sustainable development, for quality improvement of buildings, for energy and economy efficiency and environment protection. The development of new solar technologies as well as the use of old knowledge of solar passive design can significantly reduce energy demand for heating, cooling, lighting, water heating and the generation of electricity. The earliest examples of the solar architecture were the detached single-family houses. Nowadays the trends head towards the concepts of whole urban districts in which structures using solar energy (Linz -- Pichling in Austria, Freiburg -- Vauban in Deutschland, Wiikki in Finland, Masdar in Emirates...) In order to achieve a rapid transformation from fossil fuel to renewable energy powered built environment, the concept of the Solar City has been developed. The main goal of this concept is lowering of greenhouse gas emissions to an amount, which allows oceans and forests to neutralize carbon emissions. The essential condition of using solar energy in urban structure is a proper solar access. The most important tool to secure the solar access is "solar right". Solar rights are an essential device necessary for the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals and the general welfare of the community. If solar access for the complex use of solar energy in architecture is to be guaranteed (it means the use of solar energy for dayligting, for hygienic purposes and for energetic purposes), there will be a need to clarification or change of existing laws or even formulation of new laws. After the analysis of existing Slovak laws and standards and present as well as historical solution from foreign countries (Roman Law -- "Codex Justinianus", "Leges Duodecim Tabularum", England -- "Doctrine of the Ancient Light", USA - "The Standard State Zoning Enabling Act", California - "Solar Rights Act", "Solar Shade Control Act", Solar Easement Law" ...) The thesis proposes a motion of Slovak standard STN 73 4301 Dwelling Houses from 2005. The primary intention of the thesis is to scrutinize the efficiency of solar control by means of "solar envelope" technique. This method was defined by Professor Ralph Knowles from University of Southern California and developed in different ways in the last decades (to name but a few Schiler and Uen-Fang in the USA, Shaviv and Capeluto in Israel, Höhl in Deutschland, Keppl in Slovakia). Solar envelope in Knowles' terms can be defined as the building volume resulting from shadow casting restrictions and must be recognized as a both theoretical and technical method in the form generation of any building. This method is applicable on single buildings as well as urban areas and is a supportive tool in the form generation in any - but most significant in the first - stage of design. Buildings constructed without exceeding the abstract solar envelope that is constructed on the basis of solar access will be successful in the means of passive solar and low-energy design. Such a success will supply a sustainable development. Knowles' method was adapted to the Slovak legal system and subsequently tested in diverse spatial conditions -- from the gap sites to the whole urban structures. The thesis could help in dissemination of knowledge of solar envelop method into teaching and everyday practice. Equally significant contribution of the thesis is the motion of the solar rights in Slovakia. The thesis was thematically related to the research project VEGA 1/0847/08 "Application of Solar City Strategy in Slovakia". Within the mentioned project, selected parts of the thesis and its results were partly published.