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Ann Arbor, MI, Downtown Ann Arbor Design Guidelines
Adopted January 2011This standalone policy belongs to the Design Review and Solar Energy collections. -
Albany, NY, Municipal Code
Updated April 2017The city's zoning ordinance permits accessory solar energy systems by right in all districts and provides standards for these uses. -
Amherst, MA, Master Plan
Adopted February 2010The town's Master Plan addresses solar as a sustainability strategy in its Natural and Cultural Resources Element as well as its Services and Facilities element. -
Andover, MN, 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update
Adopted 2008The city's Comprehensive Plan includes land use goals and policies in support of access to solar energy. -
Anaheim, CA, General Plan
Updated April 2018by:The Green Element of the city's General Plan encourages solar siting and building design. -
Arlington County, VA, Community Energy Plan
Adopted June 2013This functional plan, adopted as an element of the comprehensive plan, sets goals and policies of increasing the use of renewable energy. -
Arlington Sustainability Action Plan Volume I: Climate Action Plan
Adopted May 2005by: City of Arlington Plng & CmtyThis functional plan lists installation of renewable energy technologies on both municipal and private buildings as an important strategy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. -
Historic Districts and Landmarks Guidelines
Updated 2006This guide addresses the placement of solar panels on historic buildings. -
Bellingham, WA, Policy No. 2010-003: Solar Water Heating Systems
February 2010by: City of BellinghamThis standalone policy clarifies permitting and installation requirements for residential solar water heating systems. -
Tompkins County, NY, Energy Roadmap: Evaluating our Energy Resources
Adopted March 2016This functional plan analyzes local resources and sets technology-specific goals for meeting renewable energy generation targets set by the county’s comprehensive plan. -
Minneapolis, MN, Energy Pathways: A Framework for Local Energy Action
February 2014by: Center for Energy and EnvironmentThis functional plan presents a vision for the city's future energy use and a strategy to achieve that vision. -
Holland, MI, Community Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy
September 2011This functional plan discusses the city’s future energy goals and analyzes alternative energy pathways. -
Mason City, IA, City Code
Updated December 2018by: City of Mason City Cmty Dev DeptThese regulations belong to the Solar Energy and Wind Energy collections. -
Story County, IA, Code of Ordinances
Updated December 2018These regulations belong to the Content-Neutral Sign Regulation, Solar Energy, and Wind Energy collections. -
Iron County, UT, Code of Ordinances
Updated December 2018These regulations belong to the Solar Energy and Wind Energy collections. -
Lake Oswego, OR, Municipal Code
Updated March 2018The city's community development code belongs to the Downtown Revitalization, Environmentally Sensitive Areas, and Solar Energy collections.Lake Oswego, OR -
Ketchum, ID, Municipal Code
Updated July 16, 2018by: City of Ketchum, IDThis regulation belongs to the Outdoor Lighting and Solar Energy collections. -
Mammoth Lakes, CA, Municipal Code
Updated November 1, 2017This regulation belongs to the Outdoor Lighting and Solar Energy collections. -
Santa Barbara, CA, Land Development Regulations
Updated September 2018The county's Land Use and Development Code includes a section on solar energy systems. -
Santa Cruz County, CA, County Code
Updated May 2018The county code protects environmentally sensitive areas and provides standards and exemptions for solar energy systems. -
Santa Clarita, CA, Municipal Code
Updated June 2018The city's zoning code establishes solar energy systems as a Class I approval in accordance with state requirements and allows solar carports in all districts with administrative permit approval. -
Sedona, AZ, Land Development Code
Updated October 2017The city's land development code provides flexibility in yard and screening requirements for solar energy systems; planned development proposals must address solar access. -
Shakopee, MN, 2030 Comprehensive Plan
Adopted August 2009This plan discusses solar access issues and sets a goal of promoting solar energy use. -
Santa Fe County, NM, Sustainable Growth Management Plan
Adopted 2015This comprehensive plan belongs to the Home Occupations and Solar Energy collections. -
Georgia Model Solar Zoning Ordinance
Version 1.0, July 2018This model ordinance provides a template to help cities and counties in Georgia draft development regulations for different solar energy system types and sizes. -
Palm Desert, CA, Comprehensive General Plan
Adopted November, 2016The city's general plan provides several policies and programs that support development of solar and other local alternative energy sources, as well as conservation of environmentally sensitive areas. -
Cottage Grove, MN, City Code
Updated February 2022by: City of Cottage Grove, MNThe city's code permits accessory solar energy systems in all districts, promotes solar access design, and incentivizes solar site planning. -
Holland Township, NJ, Township Code
Updated December 2018This regulation belongs to the Age-Friendly Communities and Solar Energy collections. -
Southampton, NY, Municipal Code
Updated April 2019This regulation belongs to the Age-Friendly Communities and Solar Energy collections. -
Smithtown, NY, Municipal Code
Updated May 2019This regulation belongs to the Age-Friendly Communities and Solar Energy collections. -
Chico, CA, 2030 General Plan
Adopted April 2011This comprehensive plan includes goals, policies, and actions to reduce nonrenewable energy resource consumption by supporting renewable energy technologies and passive solar design principles in new development. -
Santa Barbara, CA, Municipal Code
Updated March 2019The city's zoning code defines solar-related terms and sets building height limitations in residential districts to protect solar access. -
Renewable Energy in Cities
October 2016by: Jasper Rigter, Deger Saygin, Ghislaine KiefferThis report provides a systems-based overview of renewable energy in cities, highlighting numerous case studies, policies, and recommendations for integrated urban and energy planning. -
Roseville, CA, Municipal Code
Update May 2020These regulations belong to the Hazard Mitigation and Solar Energy collections. -
Ames, IA, Municipal Code
Updated March 2019These regulations belong to the Environmentally Sensitive Areas, and Solar Energy collections. -
East Lansing, MI, Code of Ordinances
Updated March 2019These regulations belong to the Age-Friendly Communities, Form-Based Zoning, and Solar Energy collections. -
Wilmington, NC, Code of Ordinances
Updated December 2019This regulation belongs to the Green Stormwater Infrastructure and Solar Energy collections. -
Newark, DE, Code of Ordinances
2017The city's subdivision ordinance includes design standards for energy conservation and solar access including general design and construction principles and subdivision plan guidelines and requirements that address solar orientation. -
Howard County, MD, PlanHoward 2030
Updated February 2021by:The Energy Resources section of the county's general plan includes policies and implementing actions around promoting renewable energy resources. -
Independence, KS, Code of Ordinances
Updated August 2020This city's zoning code allows residents to establish solar access easements as agreements between property owners establishing a "solar skyspace envelope." -
Idaho Springs, CO, Design Guidelines for Historic Structures
2007The city's historic structure design guidelines address the placement of solar panels on historic structures. -
Stearns County, MN, Shape Stearns 2040 Comprehensive Plan
Adopted July 2020The county's comprehensive plan includes a Clean Energy focus area in its Agriculture element. -
Inyo County, CA, General Plan
Updated March 2015The county's comprehensive plan includes a Renewable Energy amendment that provides siting guidance for community- and utility-scale solar facilities. -
San Bernardino County, CA, Countywide Plan
Adopted October 2020The county's comprehensive plan includes a Renewable Energy & Conservation element. -
How to Solar Now: A Solar Energy Toolkit for Your Community
January 2021This toolkit is designed to help communities in New York's Hudson Valley and beyond update zoning regulations and improve land-use decision-making processes for large-scale solar development. -
State and Local Planning for Energy
October 2021This interactive map belongs to the Green Building, Solar Energy, and Wind Energy collections. -
Cape Cod Commission, MA, Solar Screening Tool
2021This interactive map is designed to help local jurisdictions, solar developers, and utilities to identify potential sites for large-scale solar development in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. -
Phoenix, AZ, Municipal Code
Updated April 2019This regulation belongs to the Active Transportation, Food Trucks, Solar Energy, and Transit-Oriented Development collections. -
North Kingstown, RI, Revised Ordinances
Updated August 2021These regulations belong to the Solar Energy and Urban Agriculture collections.