Jay County, Indiana solar and wind ordinance
Solar: 20 ft maximum height, 5 acres minimum lot. Wind: 1,500 ft (non-participating landowners) from homes, 55 dBA noise limit. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 30, 2026.
Updated September 2026
Solar rules
5 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Setback from property line of nature preserve, park, recreational use, conservation landsNature preserve, park and/or recreational use 25 feet from the property line | 25 ft |
Maximum heightShall not exceed twenty (20) feet in maximum tilt of the solar panel(s). | 20 ft |
Fence heightminimumby a fence with a minimum height of 6 feet but no greater than 8 feet | 6 ft |
Fence heightmaximumby a fence with a minimum height of 6 feet but no greater than 8 feet | 8 ft |
Minimum lot sizeA commercial facility, on a parcel(s) of five acres or more | 5 acres |
Source: Jay County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Wind rules
5 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Setback from homesnon-participating landowners1,500 feet for non-participating landowners. | 1,500 ft |
Setback from church, school, business or public buildingChurch, school, business or public building , measured from the center of the WECS to the nearest corner of the structure 1,500 feet | 1,500 ft |
Setback from Area zoned Commercial, Rural Residential and any Commercial zoned recreational areaArea zoned Commercial, Rural Residential and any Commercial zoned recreational area , measured from the center of the WECS to the property line 1,500 feet | 1,500 ft |
Setback from nature preserve, park, recreational use, conservation landsNature preserve, park and/or recreational use 2,640 feet (1/2 mile) from property lines | 2,640 ft |
Noise limitlevel of noise produced by the mechanics of the turbine and/or wind turbine operation heard off-site shall not exceed 55 dBA when measured from any primary structure. | 55 dBA |
Source: Jay County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Indiana state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All Indiana rules and counties.
Solar standards in state law
Optional default standards for solar of 10 MW or more: they apply only in a county or town that voluntarily becomes a solar energy ready community (it may adopt looser ones), for applications filed after June 30, 2022.
| Homes (non-participating) | 250 ft |
| Property line (non-participating) | 50 ft |
| Public roads | 40 ft (interstate, state, county highways) from right-of-way |
| Public roads | 30 ft (collector), 10 ft (local) from right-of-way |
| Panel height at full tilt | 25 ft |
| Fence height | 6 ft minimum |
| Noise | 50 dBA (hourly average, at nearest non-participating dwelling) |
IC 8-1-42-1, -2, -10, -12, -16 (P.L.90-2022). Source
Wind standards in state law
Optional default standards: they apply only in a county or town that voluntarily becomes a wind energy ready community (it may adopt looser ones), for applications filed after June 30, 2022.
| Homes (non-participating) | 3 × tip height |
| Property line (non-participating) | 1.1 × tip height |
| Public roads | 1.1 × tip height (to road centerline) |
| Town limits | 1 mile (town may waive) |
| Tip height | No local cap stricter than FAA Part 77 |
| Shadow flicker | 30 hours/year |
| Noise | 50 dBA (hourly average, at dwelling wall) |
| Decommissioning | Bond: 25% of cost by commercial operation, stepping up later |
IC 8-1-41-1, -10, -11, -13, -16 (P.L.90-2022). Source
Every Indiana figure in one spreadsheet
240 figures from 28 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. Plus the 2 moratoria and bans on file and Indiana state law.
How these figures were read
We found Jay 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 Jay County, IN?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 20 ft. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What is the minimum lot size for a solar farm in Jay County, IN?
The ordinance sets a minimum lot size of 5 acres. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the wind turbine setbacks in Jay County, IN?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 1,500 ft (non-participating landowners) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.