Bowman County, North Dakota solar and wind ordinance
Solar: 150 ft (Utility-scale solar) from property lines, 150 ft (Utility-scale solar) from roads, 20 ft (Utility-scale ground-mounted solar) maximum height. Wind: 2.5 × rotor diameter (between participating and non-participating property) from property lines, 45 dBA (within 100 feet of any non-participating residence) noise limit. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 30, 2026.
Updated September 2026
Solar rules
9 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Property line setbackUtility-scale solarUtility - scale solar energy systems will be set back at least one hundred fifty (150) feet from the adjacent non - participating property line. | 150 ft |
Road setbackUtility-scale solarUtility - scale solar energy systems will be set back at least one hundred fifty (150) feet from all public roads, highway rights - of - way and section lines. | 150 ft |
Setback from shooting positionestablished shooting range, measured down-rangeFor an established shooting range, the Utility - scale solar energy systems must be located at least 5,280 feet from the shooting position, as measured down - range. | 5,280 ft |
Maximum heightUtility-scale ground-mounted solarUtility - scale ground - mounted solar energy systems will have a maximum height of twenty (20) feet above ground. | 20 ft |
Fence heightminimum height for utility-scale solarAny security or perimeter fence placed at a Utility - scale solar energy system will be constructed from metal chain - link material, will be a minimum of six (6) feet in height and not exceed eight (8) feet in height. | 6 ft |
Fence heightmaximum height for utility-scale solarAny security or perimeter fence placed at a Utility - scale solar energy system will be constructed from metal chain - link material, will be a minimum of six (6) feet in height and not exceed eight (8) feet in height. | 8 ft |
Minimum lot sizeUtility-scale solarMinimum lot area for a Utility - scale solar energy system will be twenty (20) acres . | 20 acres |
Noise limitas measured at the property line for utility-scale solarNo Utility - scale solar energy system shall exceed forty - five (45) dBA as measured at the property line. | 45 dBA |
Decommissioning bondfor utility-scale solarThe form of surety for decommissioning will be one hundred twenty - five (125) percent of the estimated removal and restoration costs. | 125% |
Source: Bowman County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Wind rules
9 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Property line setbackbetween participating and non-participating propertyEach wind turbine will be set back from the property line between the participating property and any non - participating property that adjoins the participating property at a distance not less than 2.5 times the rotor diameter of the wind turbine. | 2.5 × rotor diameter |
Setback from homesoccupied dwelling, commercial building or publicly used facilityEach wind turbine will be setback from the nearest occupied dwelling, commercial building or publicly used facility at a distance not less than two thousand six hundred forty (2,640) feet. | 2,640 ft |
Road setbackfrom public road or above ground communications or electric line; whichever is greater of the twoEach wind turbine will be set back from the nearest public road or above ground communications or electric line at a distance not less than five hundred (500) feet or 1.1 times the rotor diameter, whichever is the greater of the two | 500 ft |
Road setbackfrom public road or above ground communications or electric line; whichever is greater of the twoEach wind turbine will be set back from the nearest public road or above ground communications or electric line at a distance not less than five hundred (500) feet or 1.1 times the rotor diameter, whichever is the greater of the two | 1.1 × rotor diameter |
Setback from recreational areasA one - quarter (1/4) mile or one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) foot setback will be required from recreational areas to provide an adequate buffer zone between recreation areas that are private and/or open to the public and a wind turbine. | 1,320 ft |
Setback from shooting positionmeasured down rangeFor established, permanent shooting ranges, the wind energy facility must be located at a minimum of five thousand two hundred eighty (5,280) feet from the shooting position, as measured down range. | 5,280 ft |
Setback from city limits boundaryNo wind turbine will be erected within one (1) mile, extending outward from a city limits boundary. | 1 mile |
Noise limitwithin 100 feet of any non-participating residenceSound levels of wind turbines within one hundred (100) feet of any non - participating residence will not 45 dBA. | 45 dBA |
Decommissioning bondThe form of surety for decommissioning will be one hundred twenty - five (125) percent of the estimated removal and restoration costs. | 125% |
Source: Bowman County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
North Dakota state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All North Dakota rules and counties.
State siting: North Dakota Public Service Commission
A PSC certificate of site compatibility is required for wind over 0.5 MW, solar and other generation over 50 MW, and grid storage of 5 MW or more; it does not override county or township zoning, so the project needs both.
NDCC 49-22-03 and 49-22-07 (storage added by HB 1097 (2023)). Source
Wind standards in state law
Applies to wind projects the PSC sites (over 0.5 MW): these areas must be excluded from the site unless the neighbor agrees to a variance; counties and townships may require more.
| Homes (non-participating) | 3 × tip height |
| Property line (non-participating) | 1.1 × tip height |
| Public roads (interstate and state) | 1.1 × tip height from right-of-way |
| Public roads (county and township) | 1.1 × tip height + 75 ft from centerline |
| Railroads | 1.1 × tip height from right-of-way |
| Transmission lines (115 kV and up) | 1.1 × tip height from right-of-way |
| Noise | 45 dBA within 100 ft of a home or community building (owner may waive) |
| ICBM launch facilities | 1,200 ft |
NDCC 49-22-05.1(4); N.D. Admin. Code 69-06-08-01(1), (2), (4) (rule last amended effective Jan 1, 2022). Source
Solar standards in state law
Applies to solar projects the PSC sites (over 50 MW): homes within 500 ft are an avoidance area (usable only if there is no reasonable alternative, and the owner may waive it), and ICBM sites are excluded.
| Homes (inhabited rural residence) | 500 ft (avoidance area; owner may waive) |
| ICBM launch facilities | 1,200 ft |
NDCC 49-22-05.1(3); N.D. Admin. Code 69-06-08-01(1)(f). Source
Wind standards in state law
Applies statewide to every commercial wind facility of 500 kW or more, whether or not the PSC sited it.
| Decommissioning | Start within 12 months, finish within 24 months of abandonment or end of life |
| Decommissioning (removal depth) | Foundations to 4 ft (built on or after July 1, 2017) |
N.D. Admin. Code ch. 69-09-09 (NDCC 49-02-27; effective Oct 1, 2008, amended July 1, 2017). Source
Solar standards in state law
Applies statewide to every commercial solar facility of 500 kW or more, whether or not the PSC sited it.
| Decommissioning | Start within 12 months, finish within 24 months of abandonment or end of life |
| Decommissioning (removal depth) | Piles and foundations to 4 ft; cables to 24 in |
N.D. Admin. Code ch. 69-09-10 (NDCC 49-02-27; effective July 1, 2020). Source
Every North Dakota figure in one spreadsheet
156 figures from 16 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 1 of those places is not on this site. Plus the moratorium or ban on file and North Dakota state law.
How these figures were read
We found Bowman 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 Bowman County, ND?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 150 ft (Utility-scale solar) from roads and 150 ft (Utility-scale solar) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Bowman County, ND?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 20 ft (Utility-scale ground-mounted solar). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What is the minimum lot size for a solar farm in Bowman County, ND?
The ordinance sets a minimum lot size of 20 acres (Utility-scale solar). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the wind turbine setbacks in Bowman County, ND?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 2,640 ft (occupied dwelling, commercial building or publicly used facility) from homes, 500 ft (from public road or above ground communications or electric line; whichever is greater of the two) from roads, 1.1 × rotor diameter (from public road or above ground communications or electric line; whichever is greater of the two) from roads and 2.5 × rotor diameter (between participating and non-participating property) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.