Fauquier County, Virginia solar ordinance
Solar: 100 ft from property lines, 1,000 ft from roads, 15 ft maximum height. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 30, 2026.
Updated September 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 setbackThe following additional minimum setbacks shall apply from all solar equipment: a. 100’ setback to the project boundary. | 100 ft |
Road setbackSolar equipment and panels shall be set back a distance of 1,000 feet from a right-of-way line of a street identified as a Corridor of Statewide Significance. | 1,000 ft |
Maximum heightSolar panels shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height measured from existing grade below the panel | 15 ft |
Fence heightAll property containing panels shall be enclosed with chain link fencing not less than six (6) feet in height, topped with an appropriate anti-climbing device, and secured with gates. | 6 ft |
Maximum lot coverageSolar panels shall not cover more than 80% of the project area. | 80% |
Maximum project sizeThe maximum project size for individual Utility Scale Solar projects shall not exceed one thousand (1,000) acres. | 1,000 acres |
Source: Fauquier 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
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 Fauquier 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 Fauquier County, VA?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 100 ft from property lines and 1,000 ft from roads. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Fauquier County, VA?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 15 ft. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.