Chesapeake city, Virginia solar ordinance
Solar: 150 ft (All other exterior property lines) from property lines, 10 ft (at max tilt) maximum height. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read October 8, 2026.
Updated October 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 |
|---|---|
Property line setbackAll other exterior property linesAll other exterior property lines: 150 feet | 150 ft |
Property line setbackon-site substationand a minimum of five hundred (500) feet to the closest property line. | 500 ft |
Setback from homeson-site substationThe proposed substation(s) shall maintain a minimum setback of one thousand (1000) feet from any residential dwelling unit | 1,000 ft |
Maximum heightat max tiltThe height of the solar panel arrays shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height at max tilt. | 10 ft |
Fence heightSaid fence shall be between six (6) to ten (10) feet in height. | 6 ft |
Fence heightSaid fence shall be between six (6) to ten (10) feet in height. | 10 ft |
Source: Chesapeake city ordinance (PDF), read October 8, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Virginia state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All Virginia rules and counties.
State siting: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality; State Corporation Commission
Projects up to 150 MW can use a permit by rule from the Department of Environmental Quality. Larger ones may need a certificate from the State Corporation Commission. Local approval is also needed.
Va. Code Ann. 10.1-1197.5, 56-265.2 (DOE and Berkeley Lab inventory, June 2024). Source
Limits on local rules
For ground-mounted solar of 1 MW or more serving other property, counties must use a special exception or siting agreement whose setbacks, screening and height stay within state ranges; a county can still deny the application, and can depart from the ranges only by written agreement with the landowner and applicant.
Va. Code 15.2-2288.8(A) (2026 Acts cc. 1005, 1068). Source
Solar standards in state law
Applies to ground-mounted solar of 1 MW or more that serves other property; each county must write its special-exception rules within these ranges (picking any number inside a range), may still deny a project, and may agree looser terms in a siting agreement.
| Homes (non-participating) | 150 to 200 ft |
| Schools, churches, community buildings | 150 to 200 ft |
| Public roads | 50 to 100 ft from roadbed edge |
| Property line (non-participating) | 50 to 75 ft |
| Wetlands and perennial streams | 50 ft (25 MW or less), 100 ft (over 25 MW) |
| Wetlands and streams in Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas | 100 to 125 ft |
| Panel height at full tilt | 25 ft |
| Screening buffer width | 25 to 50 ft wide; plants need not exceed 3 ft at planting |
| Vegetative ground cover | Up to 75% may be required |
| Decommissioning | Agreement plus financial assurance; estimate updated every 5 years |
Va. Code 15.2-2288.8(A) (2026 Acts cc. 1005, 1068); 15.2-2241.2. Source
Every Virginia figure in one spreadsheet
238 figures from 32 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 5 of those places are not on this site. Plus the moratorium or ban on file and Virginia state law.
How these figures were read
We found Chesapeake city'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 Chesapeake city, VA?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 150 ft (All other exterior property lines) from property lines, 1,000 ft (on-site substation) from homes and 500 ft (on-site substation) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Chesapeake city, VA?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 10 ft (at max tilt). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.