Deuel County, South Dakota solar and wind ordinance
Solar: 30 ft from property lines, 500 ft from homes, 20 ft maximum height. Wind: 4 × height (from existing Non-participating residences and businesses) from homes. 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 setbacka. Every SES shall observe a minimum rear and side yard setback of thirty (30) feet. | 30 ft |
Setback from homesSolar panels will be kept at least five hundred (500) feet from a residence. | 500 ft |
Setback from highwater mark of any lake, stream or riverc. Every SES shall be setback at least one hundred (100) feet from the highwater mark of any lake, stream or river. | 100 ft |
Maximum height9. Maximum height: Solar panel arrays shall be no more than twenty (20) feet in height, not including power lines. | 20 ft |
Fence heighta. All SES shall be fenced around the exterior of the SES with a fence at least six (6) feet in height. | 6 ft |
Source: Deuel County ordinance (PDF), read October 7, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Wind 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 homesfrom existing Non-participating residences and businessesa. Distance from existing Non - participating residences and businesses shall not be less than four times the height of the wind turbine. | 4 × height |
Setback from Lake Park District located at Lake Cochraned. Distance from the Lake Park District located at Lake Cochrane: 3 miles; | 3 miles |
Setback from Lake Park District located at Lake AliceDistance from the Lake Park District located at Lake Alice: 2 miles; | 2 miles |
Setback from Lake park District located at Bullhead Lakea nd 1 mile from the Lake park District located at Bullhead Lake . | 1 mile |
Setback from homes, participating ownerfrom existing Participating residences, businesses and public buildingsDistance from existing Participating residences, businesses and public buildings shall not be less than fifteen hundred feet. | 1,500 ft |
Source: Deuel 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 Deuel 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 Deuel County, SD?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 500 ft from homes and 30 ft from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Deuel County, SD?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 20 ft. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the wind turbine setbacks in Deuel County, SD?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 4 × height (from existing Non-participating residences and businesses) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.