Meade County, Kentucky solar ordinance
Solar: 50 ft (Level 3 SES) from property lines, 25 ft (Level 3 SES) maximum height. 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 setbackLevel 3 SES(1) All components of the SES shall be at least fifty (50) feet from the perimeter property lines of the project area | 50 ft |
Setback from homesLevel 3 SES, measured from residential structure, nursing home, church, or schooland at least two hundred fifty (250) feet from any residential structure, nursing home, church, or school | 250 ft |
Maximum heightLevel 3 SES4.3.7.3.a. The height of any ground mounted SES shall not exceed twenty-five (25) feet as measured from the highest natural grade below each solar panel | 25 ft |
Fence heightLevel 3 SES4.3.7.3.d. All Level 3 SES shall be screened with a seven (7) foot tall fence | 7 ft |
Maximum project sizeTotal permitted in unincorporated areas4.3.7.3.g. The total number of acres in the unincorporated areas of the county which are permitted to allow Level 3 SES shall be limited to SIX HUNDRED (600) acres. | 600 acres |
Decommissioning bondLevel 3 SESThe surety bond or other form or security, shall be one hundred (100) percent of the reasonable estimate submitted for the decommissioning of the | 100% |
Source: Meade County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Kentucky state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All Kentucky rules and counties.
State siting: Kentucky State Board on Electric Generation and Transmission Siting
A merchant plant of 10 MW or more needs a state construction certificate, on top of any local zoning.
KRS 278.700 to 278.718. Source
Solar standards in state law
Default setback for merchant solar of 10 MW or more that the Siting Board certifies; where the county or city has planning and zoning, its own setback, height and decommissioning rules replace these, and elsewhere the board may grant a deviation.
| Residential neighborhoods (5+ acres, 1+ home per acre) | 2,000 ft |
| Schools, hospitals, nursing homes | 2,000 ft |
| Decommissioning | Bond: present value of decommissioning cost, or the local bond amount |
KRS 278.704(2)-(4), 278.706(2)(m) (as amended by 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 152 and ch. 198). Source
Every Kentucky figure in one spreadsheet
92 figures from 15 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 1 of those places is not on this site. Plus the moratorium or ban on file and Kentucky state law.
How these figures were read
We found Meade 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 Meade County, KY?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 50 ft (Level 3 SES) from property lines and 250 ft (Level 3 SES, measured from residential structure, nursing home, church, or school) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Meade County, KY?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 25 ft (Level 3 SES). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.