Barry County, Michigan solar ordinance
Solar: 100 ft (non-participating lot) from property lines, 300 ft (existing non-participating dwelling unit) from homes, 100 ft (output capacity greater than 50 MW) from roads. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read October 8, 2026.
Updated October 2026
Solar rules
14 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Property line setbacknon-participating lotOne hundred ( 1 00) feet from any property line of a non - participating lot. | 100 ft |
Setback from homesexisting non-participating dwelling unitThree hundred ( 3 00) feet from any existing non - participating dwelling unit. | 300 ft |
Road setbackoutput capacity greater than 50 MWFor Principal - Use SES with a output capacity greater than 50 megawatts, o ne hundred (100) feet from any public or private right - of - way or easement. | 100 ft |
Road setbackoutput capacity 50 MW or lessFor Principal - Use SES with a total output capacity of 50 megawatts or less, one hundred fifty (150) feet from any public or private right - of - way or easement. | 150 ft |
Setback from stream, river, pond, lake, wetland, drain, 100-year floodplainOne hundred (100) feet f rom a stream, river, pond, lake, wetland, drain, or lands located within a 100 - year floodplain as identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. | 100 ft |
Maximum heightsolar panel maximum tiltTotal height for a principal - use SES shall not exceed sixteen (1 6 ) feet measured from the ground to the top of the system when oriented at maximum ti lt. | 16 ft |
Maximum heightstructures aside from a solar panelHowever, other structures aside from a solar panel (such as a substation) shall not exceed forty - five ( 4 5) feet measured from the ground to the highest point on the structure. | 45 ft |
Fence heightPerimeter fencing shall be eight (8) feet in height. | 8 ft |
Minimum lot sizeAgricultural and Rural Residential zoning districtsA p rincipal - use SES shall not be constructed on parcels less than eighty (80) acres in size in the Agricultural and Rur al Residential zoning districts | 80 acres |
Minimum lot sizeLight Industrial and General Industrial zoning districtsand twenty (20) acres in size in the Light Industrial and General Industrial zoning districts | 20 acres |
Maximum project sizetotal area of a single principal-use SESThe total area of a single principal - use SES, including all components, shall not exceed 1500 acres in total size on all participating lots. | 1,500 acres |
Maximum project sizetotal solar limit in the countyConsistent with the County’s Master Plan, p rincipal - use SES shall not occupy or c over more than the “solar limit” of 10,300 acres within the land area of Barry County under the County’s zoning jurisdiction . | 10,300 acres |
Noise limitThe sound pressure level of a principal - use SES and all ancillary solar equipment shall not exceed fifty - five ( 5 5) dBA at the property line of an adjoining non - participating lot or at a public or private road right - of - way or easement. | 55 dBA |
Decommissioning bondThe method of ensuring that funds will be available to cover 100% of the costs of site decommissioning and stabilization from an acceptable source | 100% |
Source: Barry County ordinance (PDF), read October 8, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Michigan state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All Michigan rules and counties.
State siting: Michigan Public Service Commission
Solar of 50 MW or more, wind of 100 MW or more, and storage of 50 MW and 200 MWh or more can be certified by the state commission instead of the local government, unless every affected local unit has a compatible ordinance.
MCL 460.1222(1) (Public Act 233 of 2023). Source
Limits on local rules
To keep control of projects of 50 MW or more, a local ordinance can be no stricter than the state's setback, fencing, height and sound limits.
Public Act 233 of 2023, section 226(8). Source
Solar standards in state law
Binds solar projects of 50 MW or more that the PSC certifies, and caps any local ordinance that wants to keep siting those projects locally (a compatible ordinance can be no stricter).
| Homes (non-participating) | 300 ft |
| Public roads | 50 ft |
| Property line (non-participating) | 50 ft |
| Panel height at full tilt | 25 ft |
| Noise | 55 dBA (hourly average, at nearest non-participating dwelling) |
| Fencing | National Electrical Code |
MCL 460.1226(8)(a) (Public Act 233 of 2023). Source
Every Michigan figure in one spreadsheet
873 figures from 12 counties and 108 towns and townships, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 108 of those places are not on this site. Plus the 4 moratoria and bans on file and Michigan state law.
How these figures were read
We found Barry 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 Barry County, MI?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 100 ft (non-participating lot) from property lines, 100 ft (output capacity greater than 50 MW) from roads, 150 ft (output capacity 50 MW or less) from roads and 300 ft (existing non-participating dwelling unit) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Barry County, MI?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 16 ft (solar panel maximum tilt) and 45 ft (structures aside from a solar panel). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What is the minimum lot size for a solar farm in Barry County, MI?
The ordinance sets a minimum lot size of 80 acres (Agricultural and Rural Residential zoning districts) and 20 acres (Light Industrial and General Industrial zoning districts). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.