King George County, Virginia solar ordinance
Solar: 15 ft (ground-mounted utility-scale solar) maximum height, 2 acres (utility-scale solar) minimum lot, 65 dBA (measured at the property line) noise limit. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 29, 2026.
Updated September 2026
Solar rules
9 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Setback from residential district, planned development district, or dwellingutility-scale solar(ii) All structures - including fences, panels, and all ancillary equipment/buildings – shall be at least 200 ft. from any residential district, planned development district, or dwelling; | 200 ft |
Setback from agricultural, commercial, or industrial districtutility-scale solar(iii) All structures - including fences, panels, and all ancillary equipment/buildings – shall be at least 100 ft. from all agricultural, commercial, or industrial district. | 100 ft |
Maximum heightground-mounted utility-scale solar(1) If the utility-scale solar energy facility is ground-mounted, the facility’s height shall not exceed 15 ft. at the tallest point, including appurtenances. | 15 ft |
Fence heightutility-scale solar(1) All security fencing shall be a minimum of 6 ft. in height and topped with razor/barbed wire, as appropriate. | 6 ft |
Minimum lot sizeutility-scale solar(F) Lot Area. Minimum lot area of 2 acres, and the maximum area shall be 500 acres, including the required open space. | 2 acres |
Maximum lot coverageutility-scale solar(G) Lot Coverage . Lot coverage shall not exceed 65% of the total lot acreage, including the space between panels. | 65% |
Maximum project sizeutility-scale solar(F) Lot Area. Minimum lot area of 2 acres, and the maximum area shall be 500 acres, including the required open space. | 500 acres |
Noise limitmeasured at the property line(M) Noise. During operation, a utility-scale solar facility shall not produce a noise level that exceeds 65 dBA as measured at the property line or 50 dBA as measured at the nearest neighboring dwelling. | 65 dBA |
Noise limitmeasured at the nearest neighboring dwelling(M) Noise. During operation, a utility-scale solar facility shall not produce a noise level that exceeds 65 dBA as measured at the property line or 50 dBA as measured at the nearest neighboring dwelling. | 50 dBA |
Source: King George County ordinance (PDF), read September 29, 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 King George 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
How tall can a solar farm be in King George County, VA?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 15 ft (ground-mounted utility-scale solar). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What is the minimum lot size for a solar farm in King George County, VA?
The ordinance sets a minimum lot size of 2 acres (utility-scale solar). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.