Lake County, Indiana solar, wind and battery storage ordinance
Solar: 50 ft (nonparticipating property lines) from property lines, 200 ft (nonparticipating residences) from homes, 25 ft (ground-mounted solar energy systems) maximum height. Wind: 2,640 ft from homes, 1,320 ft from roads, 350 ft maximum height. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read October 7, 2026.
Updated October 2026
Solar rules
4 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Property line setbacknonparticipating property linesGround-mounted solar energy systems must be set back at least 50 feet from all nonparticipating property lines. | 50 ft |
Setback from homesnonparticipating residencesGround-mounted solar energy systems must be set back at least 200 feet from all nonparticipating residences. | 200 ft |
Maximum heightground-mounted solar energy systemsGround-mounted solar energy systems may not exceed 25 feet in height when oriented at maximum tilt. | 25 ft |
Fence heightminimum heightSolar energy systems that are part of a solar farm must be enclosed by perimeter security fencing or other barrier approved by the board of zoning appeals with a minimum height of at least 7 feet. | 7 ft |
Source: Lake County ordinance (PDF), read October 7, 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 |
|---|---|
Setback from homesWind turbines must be set back at least 2,640 feet from residential dwelling units, residential zoning district boundaries, schools, and parks | 2,640 ft |
Road setbackand at least 1,320 feet from road rights-of-way. | 1,320 ft |
Setback from residential zoning district boundariesWind turbines must be set back at least 2,640 feet from residential dwelling units, residential zoning district boundaries, schools, and parks | 2,640 ft |
Setback from schools and parksWind turbines must be set back at least 2,640 feet from residential dwelling units, residential zoning district boundaries, schools, and parks | 2,640 ft |
Maximum heightWind turbines may not exceed 350 feet in height. | 350 ft |
Noise limitmeasured at the minimum required setback distancesWind turbines may not produce sound levels in excess of 50 decibels (on the dB(A) scale), as measured at the minimum required setback distances. | 50 dBA |
Source: Lake County ordinance (PDF), read October 7, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Battery storage rules
1 figure read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Fence heightminimum heightBattery energy storage facilities must be enclosed by perimeter security fencing or other county-approved barrier at least 6 feet in height unless housed in a dedicated building. | 6 ft |
Source: Lake County ordinance (PDF), read October 7, 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 Lake 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 Lake County, IN?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 50 ft (nonparticipating property lines) from property lines and 200 ft (nonparticipating residences) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Lake County, IN?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 25 ft (ground-mounted solar energy systems). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the wind turbine setbacks in Lake County, IN?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 2,640 ft from homes and 1,320 ft from roads. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.