Solar Energy

The county's land development code permits solar electric-power generation facilities (a primary use) as conditional uses requiring either level 2 or level 3 review in a number of rural, business park, industrial, and institutional districts (§205, Table 2.1).

They are subject to standards including minimum lot size of 10 acres, minimum 50-foot setback, and required landscape buffer along public rights-of-way. In certain districts, facilities within 1,320 feet of single-family residences or with setbacks less than 50 feet require level 3 review; any facility determined to be a state Certified Electric-Power Generation Facility requires level 4 review (§303).

Solar panels and solar energy systems are permitted in all districts as accessory uses (§206.N). Ground-mounted systems are subject to minimum lot sizes, setbacks, rear yard location restrictions, and height and coverage limits on lots of less than one acre (§206.N.b). Rooftop systems must comply with district height requirements and shall not extend beyond roof edges (§206.N.c), though variances may be requested (§206.N.e). Solar energy systems are considered abandoned after 12 months of inactivity and must be removed within 180 days (§206.N.d).

The code defines four solar energy system-related terms (Chap. 10).