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    1. Passport
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      1. APA Publications
      2. Zoning Practice

      Battery Energy Storage Systems

      Zoning Practice — March 2024
      by: Brian Ross, AICP, Monika Vadali       March 01, 2024
      This issue of Zoning Practice explores how stationary battery storage fits into local land-use plans and zoning regulations. It briefly summarizes the market forces and land-use issues associated with BESS development, analyzes existing regulations for these systems, and offers guidance for new regulations rooted in sound planning principles.
      1. Knowledge Center
      2. Applied Research

      Solar@Scale: A Local Government Guidebook for Improving Large-Scale Solar Development Outcomes

      Third Edition
      by: Alexsandra Gomez, David Morley, AICP       December 21, 2023
      This updated guidebook is designed to help local government practitioners—including planners, economic development professionals, local government managers, and elected and appointed officials—make decisions that improve large-scale solar development outcomes. It contains eight related, but semi-independent, modules covering foundational concepts and opportunities to act.
      1. Multimedia
      2. Blog
      Rows of solar arrays in front of gently rolling hills, with a town on the horizon.

      Wait, Who Approves Large-Scale Solar Siting?

      by: David Morley, AICP
      Determining which agency ultimately has the authority to approve the siting of a new large-scale solar facility can be complicated. About half of all states have have established explicit limits on local siting authority, offer certain developers a way to bypass that authority, or maintain a parallel siting process.

    • Ventura, CA, Municipal Code

      2017
      The development code protects environmentally sensitive habitat areas and recommends sustainable design features, including solar readiness.
      San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA

    • Solar Energy Standards - Urban Communities

      Updated 2014
      by: Brian Ross, AICP
      This model solar energy system ordinance with commentary for Minnesota communities addresses standards for accessory solar energy systems, provides for solar access protections, prohibits private covenants from restricting solar energy use, and offers incentives for solar energy system installations and solar access protections.
      Minnesota

    • Renewable Energy Ordinance Framework – Solar

      2015
      This document provides municipalities with a framework for drafting their own ordinances for small-scale accessory solar energy systems, offering a menu of sample ordinance language options to build a customized ordinance that addresses local issues.
      Philadelphia, PA

    • Longmont, CO, Code of Ordinances

      2016
      The city's land development code defines and regulates small-cell wireless and addresses solar, as does its mandatory green building code.
      Longmont, CO

    • Thornton, CO, Code of Ordinances

      2016
      The city's development code addresses wireless telecommunication facilities in the public rights-of-way and solar energy.
      Thornton, CO

    • Rosemount, MN, City Code

      2017
      The city's zoning code protects environmentally sensitive areas and permits various types of solar energy systems.
      Rosemount, MN

    • Cook County, IL, Solar Map

      2016
      by: Elevate Energy,
      This map displays rooftops in Cook County, Illinois, that would be suitable to host solar energy systems with rated capacities of at least 25 kW.
      Cook County, IL

    • Plantation, FL, Code of Ordinances

      2015
      The city's zoning code permits accessory solar energy systems and includes use-specific standards for multiple types of medical-marijuana-related uses.
      Plantation, FL

    • Kutztown, PA, Municipal Code

      2017
      by: Borough of Kutztown, PA
      The borough's zoning code permits accessory solar energy systems in all district subject to standards; its subdivision code supports solar access considerations and design.
      Kutztown borough, PA

    • Laurel, MD, Unified Land Development Code

      2018
      by: City of Laurel, MD
      The city's zoning ordinance permits solar energy collection panels as accessory uses in all zones and requires site plan and special exception approval for commercial systems.
      Laurel, MD

    • Municipal Guide to Planning for and Regulating Alternative Energy Systems

      2010
      This guidebook includes model zoning provisions and commentary for both accessory and primary-use solar energy systems.
      Lancaster County, PA

    • Lunenburg, MA, Protective Bylaw

      Amended May 2012
      by:
      The town's bylaw permits small-scale solar energy systems by right in all districts subject to standards and large-scale systems are permitted by right in the Solar Overlay District and with special permit approval in all other districts.
      Lunenburg town, MA

    • Lindsborg, KS, City Code

      2017
      by: City of Lindsborg, KS
      The city's subdivision regulations encourage solar orientation and allow for solar skyspace easements.
      Lindsborg, KS

    • Livingston, CA, 2025 General Plan

      Adopted October 2008
      by:
      The Open Space, Conservation, and Recreation chapter of this general plan includes policies that address solar energy use.
      Livingston, CA

    • Mapleton, UT, Municipal Code

      2017
      by: City of Mapleton, UT
      The city's zoning regulations allow roof-mounted accessory solar energy systems in all districts subject to standards; any solar easements must be privately enforced.
      Mapleton, UT

    • London Grove Township, PA, Township Code

      2017
      by: Township of London Grove
      This ordinance permits accessory rooftop and freestanding solar energy systems by right in all zoning districts.
      London Grove township, PA

    • Lewes, DE, Municipal Code

      2014
      by: City of Lewes, DE
      The city's historic district requirements support the installation of solar panels on structures within the district.
      Lewes, DE

    • Meriden, CT, Municipal Code

      2016
      by: City of Meriden, CT
      The city's zoning code provides supplementary regulations for solar devices, and the city offers tax incentives for solar energy system installation.
      Meriden, CT

    • McCall, ID, City Code

      2017
      by: City of McCall, ID
      The city's zoning code incentivizes solar use in PUDs with a 10% density bonus; its subdivision ordinance recommends solar street orientation.
      McCall, ID

    • Mitchell, SD, City Code

      2017
      by:
      The city's zoning code permits ground- and roof-mounted solar energy systems in all districts with a building permit.
      Mitchell, SD

    • Pleasant Garden, NC, Development Ordinance

      2016
      The town's development code permits accessory solar energy systems; its zoning code protects scenic roads through scenic corridor overlay districts.
      Pleasant Garden, NC

    • Dover, NH, City Code

      2016
      by: City of Dover, NH
      The city's zoning regulations protect views from scenic roads and encourage rooftop solar panels in the central business district.
      Dover, NH

    • Moraga, CA, Design Guidelines

      January 2010
      The town's design guidelines focus on maintaining its semi-rural character, preserving scenic corridors, and encourages solar energy use.
      Moraga, CA

    • Williston and Williams County, ND, Comprehensive Plan

      Adopted March 2017
      The city's comprehensive plan briefly addresses solar in its Environmental Preservation goals and objectives.
      Williston, ND

    • Rowlett, TX, Code of Ordinances

      Updated March 2018
      The city's subdivision and land development code prohibits homeowners associations from prohibiting or unreasonably restricting the use of solar or wind energy systems through CC&Rs.
      Rowlett, TX

    • San Bruno, CA, Municipal Code

      Updated April 2018
      The city's zoning code permits solar energy systems that comply with regulations, and includes a solar access provision in its public nuisance ordinance.
      San Bruno, CA

    • Royal Oak, MI, Municipal Code

      Updated March 2018
      The city's zoning code permits accessory solar energy systems in all districts subject to standards, and allows commercial solar energy systems as a special land use in the general industrial district.
      Royal Oak, MI

    • Guide to Solar Energy Permits

      Updated May 2012
      This guide provides an overview of city permit requirements for residential solar hot water and PV systems.
      Sacramento, CA

    • Sahuarita, AZ, Town Code

      Updated April 2018
      The town code includes some solar site protections and requires mitigation of solar equipment's visual impacts.
      Sahuarita, AZ

    • Salida, CO, Municipal Code

      Updated March 2018
      The city's land use code encourages solar orientation and solar access protections in single-family subdivisions.
      Salida, CO

    • Salisbury, MA, Town Bylaws

      Updated October 2017
      The town's zoning bylaw promotes the creation of large-scale solar PV installations by providing standards for their installation.
      Salisbury town, MA

    • San Carlos, CA, Municipal Code

      Updated January 2018
      The city's subdivision regulations address solar design requirements, and the zoning code offers a bonus FAR incentive for solar panels and other green building measures in mixed use districts.
      San Carlos, CA

    • Ventura, CA, 2005 General Plan

      Adopted August 2005
      The Natural Resources and Planning and Design chapters of this general plan include policies and action items that address solar.
      San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA

    • San Luis Obispo, CA, General Plan

      Updated May 2015
      The Conservation and Open Space chapter of the city's general plan promotes solar energy use through several goals, policies, and requirements.
      San Luis Obispo, CA

    • San Gabriel, CA, Municipal Code

      Updated December 2017
      The city's building regulations provide installation standards for solar energy collectors, and the zoning regulations support passive solar design opportunities.
      San Gabriel, CA

    • San Miguel County, CO, Land Use Code

      Updated May 2016
      The county's land use code includes design standards and requirements for solar energy in several districts.
      San Miguel County, CO

    • Santa Barbara, CA, Climate Action Plan

      Adopted September 2012
      The city's climate action plan calls for solar energy system installations and adoption of a solar access ordinance and solar design guidelines.
      Santa Barbara, CA

    • Sammamish, WA, Comprehensive Plan

      Adopted October 2015
      The city's comprehensive plan includes policy recommendations that support solar energy use.
      Sammamish, WA

    • Olde Schaumburg Centre Design Guidelines

      August 2005
      This design manual specifies that solar roof panels should be installed along rear rooflines to minimize visual impacts.
      Schaumburg, IL

    • St. Lucie County, FL, Land Development Code

      Updated May 2018
      The county permits solar energy systems as accessory uses in all districts and allows primary-use solar generation stations as conditional uses in agricultural and utility districts; standards are provided. The county’s zoning code includes a mapped mandatory form-based overlay zone.

    • Sheridan, OR, Municipal Code

      Updated July 2018
      The city's development code establishes solar energy collectors and systems as permitted uses in all zones and provides protections from shading of systems by rooftop appurtenances.

    • Sherwood, OR, Code of Ordinances

      Updated June 2018
      The city's zoning code promotes solar access and protections for buildings and sites, and establishes special height limitations for solar energy system equipment in certain districts.

    • South San Francisco, CA, Municipal Code

      Updated October 2018
      The city's zoning ordinance exempts solar panels from height limits; increases in building height within residential and downtown districts must not interfere with solar access to adjacent residences.

    • South Berwick, ME, Town Code

      Updated October 2017
      These subdivision regulations address solar considerations the section on general requirements.

    • Silverthorne, CO, Town Code

      Updated March 2018
      In the town's community development code, landscaping plans may not interfere with neighboring property owners' solar access rights.

    • Beverly Hills, CA, Solar Photovoltaic Installation Guideline

      Adopted September 2010
      This guide provides safety requirements for the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.

    • Boulder County, CO, Environmental Sustainability Plan

      Updated August 2018
      This functional plan supports expanding solar use on all county buildings and describes the county's existing solar energy installations.
    Showing 1 - 50 of 980 Next >