Burke County, North Carolina solar ordinance
Solar: 25 ft maximum height, 30 acres (RA-20 District) minimum lot. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read October 7, 2026.
Updated October 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 |
|---|---|
Setback from homesPower inverters and other sound producing equipmentPower inverters and other sound producing equipment shall be no less than 150’ from any dwelling unit at the time of construction/installation | 150 ft |
Maximum heightGround mounted solar power collection and electrical generation structures shall not exceed 25 feet in height | 25 ft |
Minimum lot sizeRA-20 DistrictProperty is no less than 30 acres and no greater than 100 acres in the RA-20 District | 30 acres |
Minimum lot sizeGM Districtno less than 10 acres in the GM District | 10 acres |
Maximum project sizeRA-20 DistrictProperty is no less than 30 acres and no greater than 100 acres in the RA-20 District | 100 acres |
Source: Burke County ordinance (PDF), read October 7, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
North Carolina state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All North Carolina rules and counties.
State siting: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources)
Wind of 1 MW or more needs a state DEQ permit on top of local zoning; solar is sited by counties and towns under their general zoning powers, with no state siting.
N.C. Gen. Stat. 143-215.115 to 143-215.126 (Article 21C). Source
Every North Carolina figure in one spreadsheet
177 figures from 35 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 5 of those places are not on this site. Plus the 3 moratoria and bans on file and North Carolina state law.
How these figures were read
We found Burke 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 Burke County, NC?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 150 ft (Power inverters and other sound producing equipment) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Burke County, NC?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 25 ft. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What is the minimum lot size for a solar farm in Burke County, NC?
The ordinance sets a minimum lot size of 30 acres (RA-20 District) and 10 acres (GM District). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.