Yellowstone County, Montana solar and wind ordinance
Solar: 6 ft (standard requirement) fence height, 8 ft (if razor or barbed wire is used) fence height. Wind: 500 ft (whichever is higher, 500 feet or 0.5 x total height) from property lines, 55 dBA (adjacent property improved with a dwelling unit) noise limit. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read October 7, 2026.
Updated October 2026
Solar rules
2 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Fence heightstandard requirementThe facility shall be enclosed by a six-foot tall fence (eight feet if razor or barbed wire is used), barrier, or other appropriate means designed to prevent or restrict unauthorized persons or vehicles from entering the parcel(s). | 6 ft |
Fence heightif razor or barbed wire is usedThe facility shall be enclosed by a six-foot tall fence (eight feet if razor or barbed wire is used), barrier, or other appropriate means designed to prevent or restrict unauthorized persons or vehicles from entering the parcel(s). | 8 ft |
Source: Yellowstone County ordinance (PDF), read October 7, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Wind rules
2 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Property line setbackwhichever is higher, 500 feet or 0.5 x total heightTowers shall be setback a minimum distance equal to 500 feet or 0.5 x the total height (tower plus extended blade), whichever is higher, from: (i) All property lines | 500 ft |
Noise limitadjacent property improved with a dwelling unitSound produced by the turbine under normal operating conditions, as measured at the property line of any adjacent property improved with a dwelling unit at the time of the issuance of the zoning certificate, shall not exceed 55 dBA for any period of time. | 55 dBA |
Source: Yellowstone County ordinance (PDF), read October 7, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Every Montana figure in one spreadsheet
23 figures from 6 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 3 of those places are not on this site. Plus Montana state law.
How these figures were read
We found Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone County, MT?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 500 ft (whichever is higher, 500 feet or 0.5 x total height) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.