Yavapai County, Arizona solar ordinance
Solar: 5,280 ft (from any dwellings or recorded subdivision/PAD) from homes, 300 ft (from State or Interstate highway right-of-way) from roads, 20 ft (PV panels at full tilt) maximum height. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 30, 2026.
Updated September 2026
Solar rules
16 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Setback from homesfrom any dwellings or recorded subdivision/PADFive thousand two hundred eighty feet (5,280’) – (one mile) from any dwellings (existing or under permit), or subdivision or Planned Area Development having a recorded Final Plat which has been approved by the Board of Supervisors . | 5,280 ft |
Road setbackfrom State or Interstate highway right-of-wayThree hundred (300’) feet from the official street Right-of-Way line of any State or Interstate highway. | 300 ft |
Setback from lake, creek, perennial or intermittent stream, river, major tributaries, riparian areas, wetlands, or seepsFive hundred (500’) feet from any lake, creek, perennial or intermittent stream, river, major tributaries, riparian areas, wetlands, or seeps, as measured from the top edge of the bank, or from the outer edge of any delineated Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Floodplains. | 500 ft |
Setback from minor tributariesreduced buffer setback as determined by Board of SupervisorsMinor tributaries may warrant a reduced buffer setback to be no less than one hundred fifty (150’) feet as determined by the Board of Supervisors. | 150 ft |
Setback from federally protected landsOne thousand (1,000') feet from federally protected lands (e.g., National Park, National Monument, Conservation Lands) | 1,000 ft |
Setback from other federally managed landsfive hundred (500’) feet from other federally managed lands, unless such adjacent lands have leased or planned uses deemed compatible by the Board of Supervisors. | 500 ft |
Setback from County open space, parks, and other Recreational ResourcesOne thousand (1,000’) feet from County open space, parks, and other Recreational Resources. | 1,000 ft |
Setback from forested or heavily vegetated areasareas comprising 45% or greater canopy densityFive hundred (500’) feet from forested or heavily vegetated areas comprising forty-five (45%) percent or greater canopy density of woody or cactus species | 500 ft |
Setback from ravines, canyons, or other significant and well-defined drainage featuresFive hundred (500’) feet from ravines, canyons, or other significant and well-defined drainage features, as measured from the peak of the outer edges of these features. | 500 ft |
Setback from Hillsidesslopes of 10% or greater or 50' elevation gainOne hundred fifty (150’) feet from any Hillsides with slopes of ten percent (10%) or greater or with a total elevation gain of fifty (50’) feet or more. | 150 ft |
Setback from significant archeological, paleontological, or historic sitesFive hundred (500’) feet from significant archeological, paleontological, or historic sites as identified in the Cultural Resources Management Plan, or sites already formally recognized by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). | 500 ft |
Maximum heightPV panels at full tiltThe maximum height of the highest edge of PV panels when fully tilted shall be twenty (20’) feet, as measured from the average finished grade of the row. | 20 ft |
Maximum heightstructures other than PV panelsThe maximum height of all other structures associated with the Solar Facility shall be thirty-five (35’) feet as measured from the finished grade at the base of the structure to its highest point, including appurtenances. | 35 ft |
Maximum project sizeper projectThe maximum Development Area shall not exceed three thousand (3,000) acres per project. | 3,000 acres |
Maximum project sizecumulative acreage for all projectsThe cumulative acreage maximum for all Solar Facility projects located within Yavapai County is ten thousand (10,000) acres. | 10,000 acres |
Noise limitat Project Boundary, abutting residential/PAD or wildlife corridorsOperational noise impacts at the Project Boundary shall not exceed fifty (50 dBA) decibels where abutting residential or Planned Area Development use districts, identified wildlife corridors, or where abutting parcels with dwellings existing at the time of Board of Supervisors approval | 50 dBA |
Source: Yavapai County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Every Arizona figure in one spreadsheet
46 figures from 6 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 2 of those places are not on this site. Plus Arizona state law.
How these figures were read
We found Yavapai County's own ordinance and had two AI models read it separately. A figure is shown only when both read the same number and the sentence it comes from was found in the document. Moratoria and bans are checked against the adopting document. Ordinances change and many figures apply only in some cases, so check the cited section with the county before relying on one.
Common questions
What are the solar setbacks in Yavapai County, AZ?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 5,280 ft (from any dwellings or recorded subdivision/PAD) from homes and 300 ft (from State or Interstate highway right-of-way) from roads. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Yavapai County, AZ?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 20 ft (PV panels at full tilt) and 35 ft (structures other than PV panels). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.