Lincoln County, Colorado solar and wind ordinance
Solar: 100 ft (large solar facilities) from property lines, 1,000 ft (non-participating landowner) from homes, 100 ft (large solar facilities) from roads. Wind: 500 ft (non-participating landowners) from property lines, 1,000 ft (medium and large wind energy facilities) from homes, 500 ft (medium and large wind energy facilities) from roads. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 30, 2026.
Updated September 2026
Solar rules
6 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Property line setbacklarge solar facilitiesLarge solar facilities shall be set back from all property lines, and public road rights-of-way at least one hundred feet. | 100 ft |
Setback from homesnon-participating landownerSetbacks from an occupied structure of a non-participating landowner shall be negotiable through public hearings and the permitting process but may not be within one thousand feet (1,000 feet) of an occupied structure unless written consent is given by the non-participating landowner | 1,000 ft |
Road setbacklarge solar facilitiesLarge solar facilities shall be set back from all property lines, and public road rights-of-way at least one hundred feet. | 100 ft |
Noise limitneighboring residentially-zoned lotFifty A-weighted decibels (dBA), as measured at the property line of any neighboring residentially-zoned lot | 50 dBA |
Noise limitexisting neighboring residence, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.Forty-five dBA, as measured at any existing neighboring residence between the hours of nine p.m. and seven a.m. | 45 dBA |
Noise limitproject boundarySixty dBA, as measured at the property lines of the project boundary | 60 dBA |
Source: Lincoln County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Wind rules
6 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Property line setbacknon-participating landownersThe setback for Public Roads and the property line of non-participating landowners shall also be 500 ft. | 500 ft |
Setback from homesmedium and large wind energy facilitiesSetbacks for medium and large wind energy facilities shall be no less than 1,000 feet from any residence | 1,000 ft |
Road setbackmedium and large wind energy facilitiesThe setback for Public Roads and the property line of non-participating landowners shall also be 500 ft. | 500 ft |
Setback from non-occupied structuresmedium and large wind energy facilitiesand no less than 500 feet from non-occupied structures. | 500 ft |
Noise limit7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.Noise levels when measured at the property line of any adjacent landowner shall not exceed 60 decibels from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 60 dBA |
Noise limit7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.Noise levels when measured at the property line of any adjacent landowner shall not exceed 50 decibels from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. | 50 dBA |
Source: Lincoln County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Colorado state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All Colorado rules and counties.
Limits on local rules
For public utilities and power authorities only, local governments must decide within set deadlines and a denial can be appealed to the Public Utilities Commission.
C.R.S. 29-20-108. Source
Every Colorado figure in one spreadsheet
79 figures from 19 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 8 of those places are not on this site. Plus the 3 moratoria and bans on file and Colorado state law.
How these figures were read
We found Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, CO?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 100 ft (large solar facilities) from property lines, 100 ft (large solar facilities) from roads and 1,000 ft (non-participating landowner) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the wind turbine setbacks in Lincoln County, CO?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 1,000 ft (medium and large wind energy facilities) from homes, 500 ft (medium and large wind energy facilities) from roads and 500 ft (non-participating landowners) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.