Solar Energy

The county's zoning code provides land use regulations for Ancillary Scale Solar Energy Systems, encouraging their use by permitting them in all districts as accessory uses subject to standards (§18.07.030.P). Development standards address setbacks, height, location, and removal, and cover ground-mounted, roof-mounted, and utility-pole mounted systems.

The zoning code also provides land use regulations for Utility Scale Solar Energy Systems, encouraging their use by permitting them as primary uses in business/industrial zones and as conditional use permits in mixed, use, local business, industrial campus, and residential/ranch zones (§18.07.030.Q). Different requirements apply to different districts, and the code also lists general requirements for all utility-scale systems addressing fencing, coloration, glare, warning signage, site maintenance, and abandonment.

The zoning code's section on nonconforming buildings allows that structural alterations for green building upgrades or energy/water consumption reduction, such as the installation of solar hot water or PV systems, are permitted without triggering requirements that buildings be brought into compliance (§18.01.030.D.7). Heat-reflective parking canopies may be used for parking stalls in off-street parking areas, and photovoltaic cells may substitute for the roofing material (§18.75.040.B.3.f). The county code also includes a title creating a Renewable Energy Incentive District (Title 14). The code provides a process and requirements for the designation of different types of REID sites (Chap. 14.02) and provides performance standards for utility-scale solar uses in the district, as well as listing a range of development incentives comprising waivers and modifications of development standards and review processes (Chap. 14.03).