White County, Illinois solar ordinance
Solar: 30 ft maximum height, 5 acres minimum lot, 50 dBA (measured at the property line) noise limit. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read October 8, 2026.
Updated October 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 |
|---|---|
Setback from airportwithin 500 feet of an airport or within approach zonesm. Aviation protection. For solar energy systems located within five hundred (500) feet of an airport or within approach zones of an airport, the applicant shall complete and provide the results of the Solar Glaze Hazard Analysis Tool | 500 ft |
Maximum heighte. Height. Systems, equipment and structures shall not exceed 30 feet in height when ground mounted. | 30 ft |
Fence heightminimum heightThe solar energy system shall be fully enclosed and secured by a fence with a minimum height of six feet and no more than 25 feet. | 6 ft |
Minimum lot sized. Minimum lot size. No commercial solar farm shall be erected on any lot less than five (5) acres in size. | 5 acres |
Noise limitmeasured at the property linei. Noise. Noise levels measured at the property line shall not exceed 50 decibels when located adjacent to an existing residence or residential district. | 50 dBA |
Decommissioning bondper acreIn no instance shall the financial security be less than $1,000.00 per acre. | $1,000 |
Source: White County ordinance (PDF), read October 8, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Illinois state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All Illinois rules and counties.
Limits on local rules
Counties cannot ban commercial solar in agricultural or industrial zones and cannot set standards stricter than the state's.
55 ILCS 5/5-12020 (Public Act 102-1123). Source
Solar standards in state law
Counties may adopt these standards but nothing stricter.
| Homes (non-participating) | 150 ft |
| Schools, churches, community buildings | 150 ft |
| Property line (non-participating) | 50 ft |
| Public roads | 50 ft |
| Panel height at full tilt | 20 ft |
| Noise | IPCB limits |
55 ILCS 5/5-12020 (Public Act 102-1123). Source
Every Illinois figure in one spreadsheet
157 figures from 23 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 3 of those places are not on this site. Plus Illinois state law.
How these figures were read
We found White 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
How tall can a solar farm be in White County, IL?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 30 ft. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What is the minimum lot size for a solar farm in White County, IL?
The ordinance sets a minimum lot size of 5 acres. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.