Cumberland County, Virginia solar, wind and battery storage ordinance
Solar: 100 ft from property lines, 500 ft from homes, 100 ft from roads. Wind: 50 ft (nonparticipating parties) from property lines, 50 ft from roads, 55 dBA noise limit. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 30, 2026.
Updated September 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 |
|---|---|
Property line setbackA minimum of a one hundred (100) foot setback from fencing around the energy producing equipment to the property line and any public rights of way shall be provided around the perimeter of the project where it is adjacent to non-participating property owners at the time of approval. | 100 ft |
Setback from homesA minimum five hundred (500) foot setback shall be maintained from the fence line to any adjoining or adjacent residential dwellings that exist at the time of approval. | 500 ft |
Road setbackA minimum of a one hundred (100) foot setback from fencing around the energy producing equipment to the property line and any public rights of way shall be provided around the perimeter of the project where it is adjacent to non-participating property owners at the time of approval. | 100 ft |
Setback from perennial streams and connected wetlandA one hundred (100) foot setback shall be maintained from energy generating equipment to the edge of all perennial streams and connected wetland within the project area. | 100 ft |
Maximum heightSolar panel components do not exceed a maximum height of 15 feet above ground when the arrays are at full tilt. | 15 ft |
Fence heightSolar panels must be enclosed by a security fence with a minimum height of six (6) feet. | 6 ft |
Noise limitThe solar energy facility does not generate a maximum sound in excess of 50 average hourly decibels as modeled at the nearest adjacent nonparticipating property. | 50 dBA |
Source: Cumberland 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 setbacknonparticipating parties(iii) for nonparticipating parties, a minimum of 50 feet measured from the nearest shared property line; | 50 ft |
Setback from homesoccupied community buildings and dwellings on nonparticipating properties(i) for occupied community buildings and dwellings on nonparticipating properties, a minimum of 300 feet from the nearest point on the outer wall | 300 ft |
Road setback(ii) for a public road right-of-way, a minimum of 50 feet measured from the nearest edge of a public road right-of-way | 50 ft |
Noise limitThe wind energy facility does not generate a maximum sound in excess of 55 average hourly decibels as modeled at the nearest outer wall of the nearest dwelling located on an adjacent nonparticipating property. | 55 dBA |
Source: Cumberland County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Battery storage 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 setbacknonparticipating parties(iii) for nonparticipating parties, a minimum of 100 feet measured from the nearest shared property line; | 100 ft |
Setback from homesoccupied community buildings and dwellings on nonparticipating properties(i) for occupied community buildings and dwellings on nonparticipating properties, a minimum of 300 feet from the nearest point on the outer wall | 300 ft |
Road setback(ii) for a public road right-of-way, a minimum of 100 feet measured from the nearest edge of a public road right-of-way | 100 ft |
Noise limitThe energy storage facility does not generate a maximum sound in excess of 50 average hourly decibels as modeled at the nearest outer wall of the nearest dwelling located on an adjacent nonparticipating property. | 50 dBA |
Source: Cumberland County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 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
Battery storage standards in state law
Batteries added inside the parcel of a solar project that already has a special exception are a permitted accessory use in every zoning district, with no further local land use approval, if storage capacity does not exceed the solar nameplate.
| Size allowed by right at an approved solar site | Up to 100% of solar nameplate |
Va. Code 15.2-2316.10 (2026 Acts cc. 1011, 1076). 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 Cumberland 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 Cumberland County, VA?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 100 ft from property lines, 100 ft from roads and 500 ft from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Cumberland County, VA?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 15 ft. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the wind turbine setbacks in Cumberland County, VA?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 300 ft (occupied community buildings and dwellings on nonparticipating properties) from homes, 50 ft from roads and 50 ft (nonparticipating parties) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the battery storage setbacks in Cumberland County, VA?
The county's ordinance sets battery storage back 300 ft (occupied community buildings and dwellings on nonparticipating properties) from homes, 100 ft from roads and 100 ft (nonparticipating parties) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.