Fairfield County, South Carolina solar and wind ordinance
Solar: 100 ft (Solar Energy Conversion, Large Scale) from roads, 25 ft maximum height. Wind: 600 ft (Large Facility) maximum height, 25 acres (Large Scale facility) minimum lot. 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 setbackImproved Areas at least 100 feet from any contiguous property line not associated with a Solar Energy FacilityImproved Areas shall be at least 100 feet from any contiguous property line not associated with a Solar Energy Facility. | 100 ft |
Road setbackSolar Energy Conversion, Large ScaleAll Improved Areas shall be at least 100 feet from a public road and 25 feet from the fence line. | 100 ft |
Maximum heightI. Height . Maximum height shall not exceed 25 ft. | 25 ft |
Maximum lot coverageH. Lot coverage . Maximum lot coverage shall not exceed 65 percent. | 65% |
Source: Fairfield County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Wind 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 setbackwhichever is greater, equal to one (1) linear foot for every foot of heightA. Setbacks . Wind energy facility structures shall be setback from all property lines and public right(s)-of-way a distance equal to one (1) linear foot for every foot of height of the highest structure that is part of the facility or the minimum setback for the zoning district in which it is located, whichever is greater. | 1 × height |
Road setbackwhichever is greater, equal to one (1) linear foot for every foot of heightA. Setbacks . Wind energy facility structures shall be setback from all property lines and public right(s)-of-way a distance equal to one (1) linear foot for every foot of height of the highest structure that is part of the facility or the minimum setback for the zoning district in which it is located, whichever is greater. | 1 × height |
Maximum heightLarge FacilityB. Max Height. The maximum height of wind turbines is for a Small Facility is 120 feet and 600 feet for a Large Facility unless evidence is submitted otherwise showing approval for additional height from the Fairfield County Fire Code Official. | 600 ft |
Minimum lot sizeLarge Scale facilityC. Minimum Lot Size . Minimum lot size for a Small Scale facility is 5 acres and a Large Scale facility is 25 acres. | 25 acres |
Source: Fairfield County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 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 Fairfield 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 Fairfield County, SC?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 100 ft (Solar Energy Conversion, Large Scale) from roads and 100 ft (Improved Areas at least 100 feet from any contiguous property line not associated with a Solar Energy Facility) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Fairfield County, SC?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 25 ft. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the wind turbine setbacks in Fairfield County, SC?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 1 × height (whichever is greater, equal to one (1) linear foot for every foot of height) from property lines and 1 × height (whichever is greater, equal to one (1) linear foot for every foot of height) from roads. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.