Scott County, Kentucky solar ordinance
Solar: 100 ft (Intermediate or Large Scale Ground Mounted SES) from homes, 20 ft (Ground Mounted SES) 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 setbackIntermediate or Large-Scale Ground Mounted SES from residential or agriculturalAn Intermediate or Large-Scale Ground Mounted SES, measured from the closer of the outer edge of the nearest panel or perimeter fencing, shall be located at least one hundred (100) feet from the property line of any property zoned for residential or agricultural use | 100 ft |
Property line setbackIntermediate or Large-Scale Ground Mounted SES from commercial, business, industrial, office, or institutionalat least thirty (30) feet from the property line of any property zoned for commercial, business, industrial, office, or institutional use | 30 ft |
Setback from homesIntermediate or Large Scale Ground Mounted SESAn Intermediate or Large Scale Ground Mounted SES, measured from the closer of the outer edge of the nearest panel or perimeter fencing, shall be located no closer than one hundred (100) feet from a residence located on a property other than that on which the Ground Mounted SES is to be installed. | 100 ft |
Maximum heightGround Mounted SESA Ground Mounted SES shall not exceed twenty (20) feet in height as measured from the highest natural grade below each solar panel without approval by the Board of Adjustment or other authority having jurisdiction. | 20 ft |
Source: Scott County ordinance (PDF), read October 7, 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 Scott 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 Scott County, KY?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 100 ft (Intermediate or Large-Scale Ground Mounted SES from residential or agricultural) from property lines, 30 ft (Intermediate or Large-Scale Ground Mounted SES from commercial, business, industrial, office, or institutional) from property lines and 100 ft (Intermediate or Large Scale Ground Mounted SES) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Scott County, KY?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 20 ft (Ground Mounted SES). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.