Essex County, Virginia solar ordinance
Solar: 150 ft (utility-scale solar facilities) from property lines, 150 ft (large-scale solar and PPA solar facilities) from homes, 10 ft (lowest edge of photovoltaic panels) maximum height. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read October 7, 2026.
Updated October 2026
Solar rules
15 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Property line setbackutility-scale solar facilitiesThe minimum setback for utility-scale solar facilities to property lines shall be 150 feet. | 150 ft |
Property line setbacklarge-scale solar and PPA solar facilitiesThe minimum setback for large-scale solar and PPA solar facilities to property lines shall be in accordance with the setback requirements for that zoning district or 50 feet, whichever is greater. | 50 ft |
Setback from homeslarge-scale solar and PPA solar facilitiesFacilities shall setback a minimum of 150 feet from any existing dwellings. | 150 ft |
Setback from Rappahannock Riverutility-scale solar facilitiesUtility-scale solar facilities shall be located a minimum of 1 mile outside the banks of the Rappahannock River. | 1 mile |
Setback from town boundaryutility-scale solar energy facilityUtility-scale solar energy facility shall be located at least three miles from a town boundary. | 3 miles |
Setback from Rural Service Centersunless on a brownfield or capped landfillfacilities shall be located at least one mile from identified Rural Service Centers | 1 mile |
Setback from Business and Employment district, a Deferred Development Service District, and Rural Residential Developmentunless on a brownfield or capped landfillfacilities shall be located at least one mile from a Business and Employment district, a Deferred Development Service District, and Rural Residential Development | 1 mile |
Maximum heightlowest edge of photovoltaic panelsThe maximum height of the lowest edge of the photovoltaic panels shall be 10 feet as measured from the finished grade. | 10 ft |
Maximum heightprincipal buildings and accessory buildingsThe maximum height of principal buildings and accessory buildings shall be 15 feet as measured from the finished grade at the base of the structure to its highest point | 15 ft |
Fence heightThe facilities shall be enclosed by security fencing a minimum of eight (8) feet in height | 8 ft |
Minimum lot sizeutility-scale solar energy facilityThe minimum area of a utility-scale solar energy facility shall be two (2) acres | 2 acres |
Maximum project sizeutility-scale solar energy facilityand the maximum area shall be less than 500 acres, including the required open space. | 500 acres |
Maximum project sizelarge-scale solar energy facility or PPA solar energy facilityThe maximum area of a large-scale solar energy facility or PPA solar energy facility shall be less than 50 contiguous acres. | 50 acres |
Noise limitutility-scale solar energy facility during operationa utility-scale solar energy facility shall not produce a noise level that exceeds 65 dBA as measured at the property line | 65 dBA |
Noise limitutility-scale solar energy facility during operationor 50 dBA as measured at the nearest neighboring inhabitable building. | 50 dBA |
Source: Essex County ordinance (PDF), read October 7, 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 Essex 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 Essex County, VA?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 150 ft (utility-scale solar facilities) from property lines, 50 ft (large-scale solar and PPA solar facilities) from property lines and 150 ft (large-scale solar and PPA solar facilities) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Essex County, VA?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 10 ft (lowest edge of photovoltaic panels) and 15 ft (principal buildings and accessory buildings). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What is the minimum lot size for a solar farm in Essex County, VA?
The ordinance sets a minimum lot size of 2 acres (utility-scale solar energy facility). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.