Cedar County, Iowa solar ordinance
Solar: 20 ft (appurtenant structures) maximum height. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 30, 2026.
Updated September 2026
Solar rules
3 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Setback from next solar energy systemA solar energy system must be at least one - half mile from the next solar energy system. | 0.5 miles |
Maximum heightappurtenant structuresAll appurtenant structures shall be subject to bulk and height regulations of structures in the applicable zoning district except where otherwise approved and shall not be taller than 20 feet above grade. | 20 ft |
Maximum project sizeThere shall be a cap of six - hundred forty ( 640 ) total acres d evoted to the placement of a US - SES . | 640 acres |
Source: Cedar County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Iowa state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All Iowa rules and counties.
State siting: Iowa Utilities Commission (formerly Iowa Utilities Board)
A plant of 25 MW or more needs a state certificate before construction.
Iowa Code 476A.1(5), 476A.2. Source
Limits on local rules
For plants of 25 MW or more, the state may issue its certificate even if the project does not meet county zoning; no limit was found for smaller projects.
Iowa Code 476A.5(3). Source
Every Iowa figure in one spreadsheet
114 figures from 17 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 3 of those places are not on this site. Plus the 8 moratoria and bans on file and Iowa state law.
How these figures were read
We found Cedar 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 Cedar County, IA?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 20 ft (appurtenant structures). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.