Madison County, North Carolina solar and wind ordinance
Solar: 100 ft (Large Scale Solar Energy Facilities) from property lines, 50 ft (Large Scale Solar Energy Facilities) from roads, 40 dBA noise limit. Wind: 2 × height (Large Scale) from property lines, 2.5 × height (Large Scale) from homes, 2 × height (Large Scale) from roads. 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 setbackLarge Scale Solar Energy Facilitiesthe minimum setback shall be 100 feet where abutting residential property and 50 feet from adjacent roadways. | 100 ft |
Road setbackLarge Scale Solar Energy Facilitiesthe minimum setback shall be 100 feet where abutting residential property and 50 feet from adjacent roadways. | 50 ft |
Fence heightThe site including all mechanical equipment and inverters must be enclosed by a fence at least 6’ in height | 6 ft |
Maximum lot coverageSolar panels and accessory structuresSolar panels and accessory structures such as buildings and roads shall not cover more than 30% of the lot(s) where they are located. | 30% |
Noise limitNoise from inverters or other electrical equipment shall not exceed 40dBA at the property line. | 40 dBA |
Source: Madison County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Wind 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 setbackLarge ScaleLarge Scale 2 2.5 2 2 | 2 × height |
Setback from homesLarge ScaleLarge Scale 2 2.5 2 2 | 2.5 × height |
Road setbackLarge ScaleLarge Scale 2 2.5 2 2 | 2 × height |
Setback from homes, participating ownerLarge ScaleLarge Scale 2 2.5 2 2 | 2 × height |
Noise limitLarge Wind Energy FacilitiesAudible sound from a Large Wind Energy Facility shall not exceed fifty-five (55) dBA, as measured at any Occupied Building of a Non-Participating Landowner. | 55 dBA |
Source: Madison County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 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 Madison 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 Madison County, NC?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 100 ft (Large Scale Solar Energy Facilities) from property lines and 50 ft (Large Scale Solar Energy Facilities) from roads. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the wind turbine setbacks in Madison County, NC?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 2.5 × height (Large Scale) from homes, 2 × height (Large Scale) from property lines and 2 × height (Large Scale) from roads. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.