Somerset County, Maryland solar and battery storage ordinance
Solar: 75 ft (utility scale solar energy facilities) from property lines. Battery storage: 100 ft (Energy Storage Devices) from property lines. 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 |
|---|---|
Property line setbackutility scale solar energy facilitiesUtility scale solar energy facilities must be setback seventy-five (75) feet from adjacent property lines. | 75 ft |
Setback from existing dwellings, schools, churches, public right-of-ways, and subdivisions of ten (10) or more improved lotsnew substations or connector stations, inverters, and transformersNew substations or connector stations, inverters, and transformers must be setback six-hundred (600) feet or more from existing dwellings, schools, churches, public right-of-ways, and subdivisions of ten (10) or more improved lots. | 600 ft |
Setback from cemetery or graveyardall components of a utility scale solar energy facilityAll components of a utility scale solar energy facility including underground wiring must be setback at least one-hundred (100) feet from a cemetery or graveyard. | 100 ft |
Fence heightfencing for utility scale solar energy facilitiesFences may not exceed eight (8) feet in height. | 8 ft |
Maximum project sizeutility scale solar energy facilities within the CountyDevelopment Cap. No more than 1,800 acres of utility scale solar will be considered within the County as defined by the limits of development for each utility scale solar energy facility developed or proposed. | 1,800 acres |
Source: Somerset County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 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 |
|---|---|
Property line setbackEnergy Storage DevicesEnergy Storage Devices must be setback one-hundred (100) feet from adjacent property lines, not including property lines that bisect the interior of the project area | 100 ft |
Source: Somerset County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Maryland state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All Maryland rules and counties.
State siting: Maryland Public Service Commission
Solar over 2 MW needs a Public Service Commission certificate or approval before construction.
Public Utilities Article 7-207, 7-207.1, 7-207.4, 7-218. Source
Limits on local rules
Counties and towns cannot ban solar of more than 1 MW or deny a site plan that meets the state standards, with some exceptions.
Public Utilities Article 7-218(h) (Renewable Energy Certainty Act, Ch. 624 of 2025). Source
Solar standards in state law
Applies to ground-mounted solar over 1 MW (AC) that sells wholesale, is community solar or is aggregate net metered; the owner must meet these figures, and a county or town may not ban such solar or deny a site plan that meets them. A siting agreement with the county may set looser terms; agrivoltaics are exempt from the figures.
| Homes (non-participating) | 150 ft |
| Property line (non-participating) | 100 ft |
| Fence height | 20 ft max, no barbed wire |
| Public roads | 50 ft (fence from road right-of-way) |
| Panel height (average) | 15 ft average |
| Screening buffer width | 35 ft max |
| Berms | County may not require |
| Decommissioning | Bond up to 125% of cost, with the PSC |
Md. Code, Public Utilities 7-218(b), (f), (g), (h) (Renewable Energy Certainty Act, Ch. 623 of 2025). Source
Battery storage standards in state law
Front-of-the-meter battery storage needs PSC approval; outside commercial or industrial sites the owner must meet these figures, and a county or town may not ban such storage or deny a site plan that meets them. The PSC may waive or modify the figures for good cause.
| Fence height | 20 ft max, no barbed wire |
| Screening buffer width | 25 ft max (only if the county requires a buffer) |
| Berms | County may not require |
Md. Code, Public Utilities 7-219 (Renewable Energy Certainty Act, Ch. 623 of 2025). Source
Every Maryland figure in one spreadsheet
79 figures from 11 counties and 1 town or township, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 1 of those places is not on this site. Plus Maryland state law.
How these figures were read
We found Somerset 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 Somerset County, MD?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 75 ft (utility scale solar energy facilities) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the battery storage setbacks in Somerset County, MD?
The county's ordinance sets battery storage back 100 ft (Energy Storage Devices) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.