Surry County, North Carolina solar and wind ordinance
Solar: 50 ft (Level 2 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM) from property lines, 50 ft (Level 2 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM) from roads, 25 ft (Level 2 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM) maximum height. Wind: 3 × height (Large wind energy systems) from property lines, 55 dBA (large wind energy facilities) noise limit. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 30, 2026.
Updated September 2026
Solar rules
4 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Property line setbackLevel 2 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM2) Structures and fixed equipment shall be setback at least 50 feet from all property lines and public rights-of-way. | 50 ft |
Road setbackLevel 2 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM2) Structures and fixed equipment shall be setback at least 50 feet from all property lines and public rights-of-way. | 50 ft |
Maximum heightLevel 2 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM3) Height: Structures including mounted solar collection systems, shall not exceed a height of 25 feet (excludes utility poles and antenna constructed for project). | 25 ft |
Minimum lot sizeLevel 2 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM1) The minimum lot size for this type of use shall be five acres. | 5 acres |
Source: Surry County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 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 setbackLarge wind energy systems2. Large wind energy systems shall be set back a minimum distance of three times the wind turbine height as measured from the center of the proposed facility base to all property lines. | 3 × height |
Noise limitlarge wind energy facilities1. Audible sound from a wind energy facility shall not exceed 55 dBA, as measured at any property line. | 55 dBA |
Source: Surry 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 Surry 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 Surry County, NC?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 50 ft (Level 2 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM) from property lines and 50 ft (Level 2 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM) from roads. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Surry County, NC?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 25 ft (Level 2 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What is the minimum lot size for a solar farm in Surry County, NC?
The ordinance sets a minimum lot size of 5 acres (Level 2 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the wind turbine setbacks in Surry County, NC?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 3 × height (Large wind energy systems) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.