Meade County, South Dakota solar ordinance
Solar: 500 ft (existing residential home) from homes, 50 ft (improved public right-of-way) from roads, 25 ft (ground mounted) maximum height. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read October 8, 2026.
Updated October 2026
Solar rules
7 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Setback from homesexisting residential homethe solar energy system setback shall be 500 feet from an existing residential home with the setback distance to be measured from the property line of the Solar Energy Facility to the closest wall of the existing residential home. | 500 ft |
Road setbackimproved public right-of-wayGround mounted solar energy systems and equipment as part of a Solar Energy Facility shall have a minimum of a 50 foot setback from either edge of an improved public right-of-way | 50 ft |
Road setbackunimproved public right-of-waya 25 foot setback from either edge of an unimproved public right-of-way | 25 ft |
Maximum heightground mountedHeight - Systems, equipment and structures shall not exceed 25 feet in height when ground mounted. | 25 ft |
Minimum lot sizeSolar Energy Facilities shall only be considered on properties that are 40 acres or more in size. | 40 acres |
Noise limitmeasured at the property line of the Solar Energy FacilityNoise - when located adjacent to an existing residence or residential area, noise levels measured at the property line of the Solar Energy Facility shall not exceed 55 decibels. | 55 dBA |
Decommissioning bondtotal decommissioning costsThe Decommissioning Bond must be at 105% of the total decommissioning costs (not including the salvage value of equipment), based on the Decommissioning Report or updates thereof. | 105% |
Source: Meade County ordinance (PDF), read October 8, 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
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 Meade 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 Meade County, SD?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 50 ft (improved public right-of-way) from roads, 25 ft (unimproved public right-of-way) from roads and 500 ft (existing residential home) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Meade County, SD?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 25 ft (ground mounted). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What is the minimum lot size for a solar farm in Meade County, SD?
The ordinance sets a minimum lot size of 40 acres. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.