Otsego County, Michigan wind ordinance
Wind: 1,250 ft (large wind turbine generator) from property lines, 1,250 ft (large wind turbine generator) from roads, 400 ft (large wind turbine generator) maximum height. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read October 7, 2026.
Updated October 2026
Wind rules
3 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Property line setbacklarge wind turbine generatorA WTG – Large shall meet a setback from any adjoining lot line and any adjoining public or private road a distance equal to one and one - half ( 1 ½) times the WIND TURBINE HEIGHT , but setbacks shall not be reduced to less than twelve hundred fifty feet ( 1250 ’ ) . | 1,250 ft |
Road setbacklarge wind turbine generatorA WTG – Large shall meet a setback from any adjoining lot line and any adjoining public or private road a distance equal to one and one - half ( 1 ½) times the WIND TURBINE HEIGHT , but setbacks shall not be reduced to less than twelve hundred fifty feet ( 1250 ’ ) . | 1,250 ft |
Maximum heightlarge wind turbine generatorWTG – LARGE: A commercial Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) used to generate and provide electricity to the electric utility grid. It may include nearby accessory facilities necessary to supply and transfer the electricity to the utility grid. These WTGs are greater than one hundred twenty feet (120 ’ ) in height and shall not exceed four hundred feet (400 ’ ). | 400 ft |
Source: Otsego County ordinance (PDF), read October 7, 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
Wind standards in state law
Binds wind projects of 100 MW or more that the PSC certifies, and caps any local ordinance that wants to keep siting those projects locally.
| Homes (non-participating) | 2.1 × tip height |
| Property line (non-participating) | 1.1 × tip height |
| Public roads | 1.1 × tip height (to road centerline) |
| Tip height | FAA no-hazard limit |
| Shadow flicker | 30 hours/year |
| Noise | 55 dBA (hourly average, at nearest non-participating dwelling) |
MCL 460.1226(8)(b) (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 Otsego 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 wind turbine setbacks in Otsego County, MI?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 1,250 ft (large wind turbine generator) from property lines and 1,250 ft (large wind turbine generator) from roads. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.