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Freeport, ME, Comprehensive Plan
Adopted February 2011The town's comprehensive plan includes implementation ideas supporting solar energy. -
Gila Bend, AZ, Code of Ordinances
Updated November 2011The town's building regulations outline a "Residential Solar Readiness Ordinance". -
Falcon Heights, MN, City Code
Updated October 2019The city's zoning code provides for solar access protections and addresses access in the context of variance requests. -
Fair Haven, VT, Zoning Regulations
Adopted March 2010The town's zoning regulations establish solar access protections for energy generation devices. -
Farmington, CT, Town Code
Updated February 2019The town's code states that solar installation cannot be denied in historic areas with exceptions. -
Harrison, WI, Land Development Code
Updated October 2012The town's zoning code provides standards for solar energy systems. -
Hartford, VT, Master Plan
Adopted May 2014The town's comprehensive plan includes a discussion of solar energy and several goals and implementation recommendations related to encouraging solar energy use. -
Hawthorn Woods, IL, Village Code
Updated April 2018The village's zoning code permits accessory rooftop solar energy systems by right in all districts. -
Middlebury, VT, Zoning and Subdivision Regulations
Updated February 2018The town's zoning and subdivision regulations exempt residential solar panels from zoning permit requirements, protect solar access, and promote solar siting. -
Mansfield, CT, Zoning Regulations
Updated March 2022The town's zoning regulations promote solar design and solar access protections; solar collectors may exceed maximum height requirements. -
North Olmsted, OH, Codified Ordinances
Updated June 2021The city's zoning code permits accessory ground- and roof-mounted solar energy systems in all districts, subject to standards. -
Torrance, CA, Checklist for Solar Panel Installation
Updated February 2017This document lists permit requirements for solar panel and photovoltaic systems. -
Greensburg, KS, Sustainable Land Development Code
Adopted March 2011The city's zoning regulations permit accessory solar energy systems in all districts subject to standards and provide solar access protections in two districts. -
Clarke County, VA, Zoning Ordinance
Updated August 2021The county's zoning ordinance provides standards for large photovoltaic (PV) solar power plants. -
San Carlos, CA, Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Plan
Adopted September 2021The city's climate action plan includes a number of energy-related strategies, including several promoting installation of solar energy systems. -
Sammamish, WA, Sustainability Strategy: Envisioning a Sustainable Sammamish
Adopted March 2011The city's sustainability strategy includes strategies that promote solar energy development. -
Goodyear, AZ, Design Guidelines Manual
Adopted June 2014The city's design guidelines encourage solar site design and solar energy system rooftop installations and parking lot shade structures. -
Dallas, TX, Comprehensive Plan: forwardDallas!
Adopted June 2006The city's comprehensive plan includes a policy and implementation measures promoting use of solar energy resources. -
Battery Energy Storage Systems
Zoning Practice — March 2024This 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. -
Pinal County, AZ, Development Services Code
Updated December 2021The county's development services code establishes residential solar energy devices as accessory uses, and subdivision design standards address solar orientation. -
Northampton Township (Bucks County), PA, Code of Ordinances
Updated September 2022The township's zoning code permits accessory solar energy systems by right in compliance with standards and provides for civil solar access protections. -
Solano County, CA, County Code
Updated June 2023The county's subdivision ordinance includes design requirements that address solar orientation of lots and structures. -
Rockford, IL, Zoning Ordinance
Updated December 2023The city's zoning ordinance permits solar collectors in all districts with performance review and provides development standards. -
Aurora, IL, Code of Ordinances
Updated April 2024The city's zoning ordinance permits ground- and building-mounted solar energy systems in all districts, subject to standards. -
St. Mary's County, MD, Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance
Updated December 2016The county's zoning ordinance includes design objectives that encourage solar access, and it exempts solar collector equipment from screening requirements. -
The Sun Industry
A look at utility-scale solar energy in central Arizona.With its wide-open space and plentiful sunshine, Arizona is at the top of the list for solar energy potential in the U.S. -
Taylorville, IL, Municipal Code
Updated July 2024The city's subdivision regulations incorporate solar orientation requirements for lots and buildings. -
Davidson County, NC, Zoning Ordinance
Updated June 2024The county's zoning ordinance permits accessory solar collectors in all districts and allows solar farms as special uses in a number of districts. -
Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles
April 2024This report addresses 33 misleading claims about solar energy, wind energy, and electric vehicles, to encourage an informed discussion about renewable energy. -
Morgan Hill, CA, 2035 General Plan
Updated January 2023The Natural Resources and Environment chapter of the city's comprehensive plan includes a goal to conserve energy resources, with multiple policy recommendations that could promote or facilitate solar energy use. -
Cottage Grove, MN, 2040 Comprehensive Plan
Adopted October 2020The Resilience chapter of the city's comprehensive plan includes multiple policies to support solar energy use. -
Supporting Community-Centered Solar Development: A Guide to Hosting Community Conversations About Large-Scale Solar Development
December 2024This guide outlines an eight-step process for planning and facilitating discussions about large-scale solar development and its local impact on communities. -
Connecticut Rooftop Solar PV Permitting Guide
May 2014This guide provides recommendations and resources for local communities on improving their solar energy system permit application forms and instructions, information availability, review and inspection requirements, and permit fees. -
Riverwoods, IL, Village Code
Updated October 2024The village's zoning regulations include a chapter on renewable energy that provides standards for building-mounted and free-standing solar energy systems. -
Washington County, OR, Community Development Code
The county's development code protects solar access, encourages solar orientation, and includes content-neutral sign regulations.Washington County, OR -
Kenhorst, PA, Municipal Code
by: Borough of Kenhorst, PAThe borough's zoning ordinance permits solar energy systems in all districts subject to standards, and allows owners to file for solar access protections for their systems.Kenhorst borough, PA -
Lenexa, KS, Municipal Code
by: City of LenexaThe city's zoning code permits accessory solar energy systems in all districts, subject to standards.Lenexa, KS -
Wilton, CT, Plan of Conservation and Development
The Conservation Strategies chapter of the town's comprehensive plan promotes alternative energy use as part of strategy to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.Wilton town, CT -
Cape Coral, FL, Photovoltaic Checklist
by:This guide provides a checklist and supporting information on the city's solar photovoltaic permitting and installation processes and requirements. -
St. Cloud, MN, Code of Ordinances
The city's land development code address compatibility requirements for solar energy systems in historic districts. -
San Francisco, CA, General Plan
This city comprehensive plan belongs to the Shared Mobility and Solar Energy collections. -
Tri-County RPC, PA, Solar Energy Systems Model Ordinance
This "all-inclusive" model ordinance for Pennsylvania communities addresses both accessory and principal solar energy systems and provides for solar easements. -
Roseville, CA, General Plan 2025
The Air Quality and Climate Change, Public Facilities, and Housing elements of the city's general plan discuss solar energy. -
Jefferson County, CO, Zoning Resolution
The county permits noncommercial solar energy conversion systems by right in all but one district, and commercial systems by right in a number of nonresidential districts, subject to standards. -
Photovoltaic Stormwater Management Research and Testing
This webpage explores tools and best practices for stormwater management and water quality at photovoltaic sites. -
AgriSolar Clearinghouse
This clearinghouse provides resources for businesses, landowners, and researchers about agrivoltaic development, or co-located solar and agriculture. -
Cape Cod Commission, MA, Model Large-Scale Solar Bylaw
This model bylaw acts as a regulatory tool for communities that will help provide guidance for the review and permitting process of large-scale solar projects. -
Monroe County, PA, Model Ordinance for On-site Usage of Solar Energy Systems
This model ordinance permits accessory solar energy systems in any district subject to standards. -
New York Using Special Use Permits and Site Plan Regulations to Allow Large-Scale Solar Installations While Protecting Farmland
This guide offers information to help New York local governments understand tools used for siting large-scale solar systems in agricultural districts while also ensuring that productive farmland remains operational. -
New York Solar Installations in Agricultural Districts
This guide offers information to help New York local governments navigate the development of solar projects that comply with existing farmland protection policies.