Colleton County, South Carolina solar ordinance
Solar: 10 ft (solar collector) maximum height, 5 acres minimum lot, 50 dBA (at property line) noise limit. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 29, 2026.
Updated September 2026
Solar rules
6 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Setback from electrical transmission linec. Any portion of the solar farm property boundary is within two (2) miles of an existing electrical transmission line; | 2 miles |
Maximum heightsolar collectora. In addition to buffering, screening shall be required by providing landscape within the buffer which achieves a minimum height of ten feet (10’) within three (3) years. | 10 ft |
Fence heighta. A security fence shall be required at least six feet (6’) in height to secure the solar equipment | 6 ft |
Minimum lot sizeb. The solar farm consists of a minimum of five (5) acres; | 5 acres |
Noise limitat property lineg. Adequate provisions to reduce average/constant noise levels at the property boundary not to exceed 50dBA at the property line, except during construction. | 50 dBA |
Decommissioning bondminimum decommissioning costin the amount of 125% of the estimated decommission cost minus the salvageable value, or $50,000, whichever is greater. | $50,000 |
Source: Colleton County ordinance (PDF), read September 29, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
South Carolina state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All South Carolina rules and counties.
State siting: Public Service Commission of South Carolina
Projects larger than 75 MW need a certificate from the Public Service Commission.
S.C. Code Ann. 58-33-20, 58-33-110 (DOE and Berkeley Lab inventory, June 2024). Source
Limits on local rules
Once the Public Service Commission certifies a generating plant over 75 MW, no county or city may require any further approval or permit for it, and in deciding the commission may refuse to apply local rules it finds unreasonably restrictive; smaller projects stay under county rules.
S.C. Code Ann. 58-33-160(1)(e), 58-33-410. Source
Every South Carolina figure in one spreadsheet
23 figures from 4 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 1 of those places is not on this site. Plus South Carolina state law.
How these figures were read
We found Colleton 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
How tall can a solar farm be in Colleton County, SC?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 10 ft (solar collector). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What is the minimum lot size for a solar farm in Colleton County, SC?
The ordinance sets a minimum lot size of 5 acres. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.