Warren County, North Carolina solar ordinance
Solar: 75 ft (Level 2 and 3 SES) from homes, 15 ft (Level 2 or 3 SES) maximum height. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 29, 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 |
|---|---|
Setback from homesLevel 2 and 3 SESFor Level 2 and 3 SESs, all structures and security fencing shall meet (a) any setback required in the applicable zoning district ; (b) 75 ’ setback from adjacent residences, churches, schools, businesses or other similar structures | 75 ft |
Setback from water bodies, wetlandsLevel 2 and 3 SESand (c) 50 ’ minimum setback from adjacent water bodies, wetlands, or any other additional setback required by the Army Corps of Engineers, the N.C. Department of Environmental and any jurisdictional authority . | 50 ft |
Maximum heightLevel 2 or 3 SESFor Level 2 or 3 SES the height limitation shall be 15 feet. | 15 ft |
Fence heightSecurity - fencing shall be a minimum of six feet (6 ’ in height) and secured to reduce/eliminate trespassing. | 6 ft |
Maximum project sizeMaximum Fenced Installation Size – The maximum project/installation size shall not exceed 150 acres (fenced footprint inside dimension). | 150 acres |
Source: Warren County ordinance (PDF), read September 29, 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 Warren 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 Warren County, NC?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 75 ft (Level 2 and 3 SES) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Warren County, NC?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 15 ft (Level 2 or 3 SES). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.