Clay County, South Dakota solar and wind ordinance
Solar: 50 ft (USES) from property lines, 55 dBA (USES) noise limit. Wind: 2 × height (Commercial WECS) from property lines, 3 × height (Commercial WECS) from homes, 1.25 × height (Commercial WECS) from roads. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read October 7, 2026.
Updated October 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 |
|---|---|
Property line setbackUSESProperty Lines 50 feet* | 50 ft |
Setback from Incorporated Municipality LimitsUSESIncorporated Municipality Limits 125 feet | 125 ft |
Setback from Spirit Mound ParkUSESSpirit Mound Park 1320 feet | 1,320 ft |
Setback from Public Access Hunting AreasUSESPublic Access Hunting Areas 125 feet | 125 ft |
Noise limitUSESH. Noise. The noise level of the USES shall not exceed fifty-five (55) dBA, average A-weighted sound pressure level effects at existing occupied buildings. | 55 dBA |
Source: Clay County ordinance (PDF), read October 7, 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 setbackCommercial WECSa. WECS shall be set back 2 times the total WECS height from any exterior property line. | 2 × height |
Setback from homesCommercial WECSc. WECS shall be set back 3 times the total WECS height from any habitable structure. | 3 × height |
Road setbackCommercial WECSb. WECS shall be set back 1.25 times the total WECS height from the right-of-way line of any public road or highway. | 1.25 × height |
Noise limitCommercial WECS4. Noise. The noise level of the WECS shall not exceed 65 dB(A) as measured at any property line. | 65 dBA |
Source: Clay County ordinance (PDF), read October 7, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
South Dakota state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All South Dakota rules and counties.
State siting: South Dakota Public Utilities Commission
Wind and solar projects of 100 MW or more (solar measured AC) need a PUC facility permit, decided within nine months; smaller projects are permitted by the county alone.
SDCL 49-41B-2(13), (16) and 49-41B-4 (definitions amended by SL 2025, ch 193). Source
Wind standards in state law
Applies statewide to every large wind turbine (tower 75 ft or taller), whatever its size or permitting authority; an adjacent owner can agree in writing to a shorter distance.
| Property line | 500 ft or 1.1 × tower height, whichever is greater (neighbor may waive) |
SDCL 43-13-21 to 43-13-24 (SL 2009, ch 221). Source
Wind standards in state law
Applies to wind facilities the PUC permits (100 MW and up) after July 1, 2019: obstruction lights must be radar-activated.
| Aviation lighting | Aircraft detection lighting system required |
SDCL 49-41B-25.2 (SL 2019, ch 201). Source
Every South Dakota figure in one spreadsheet
123 figures from 19 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 4 of those places are not on this site. Plus the moratorium or ban on file and South Dakota state law.
How these figures were read
We found Clay 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 Clay County, SD?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 50 ft (USES) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the wind turbine setbacks in Clay County, SD?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 2 × height (Commercial WECS) from property lines, 1.25 × height (Commercial WECS) from roads and 3 × height (Commercial WECS) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.