Northampton County, Virginia solar and wind ordinance
Solar: 60 ft from roads, 60 dBA (as measured at the property line) noise limit. Wind: 600 ft (whichever is greater) from roads, 550 ft (METMAST within a wind energy test facility) maximum height, 55 dBA (measured at the closest property line) noise limit. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 29, 2026.
Updated September 2026
Solar rules
2 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Road setbackFrom other public access roads 60 ft. | 60 ft |
Noise limitas measured at the property lineNoise generated by the facility shall be limited to 60 DBA as measured at the property line except when a back-up generator is needed for maintenance. | 60 dBA |
Source: Northampton County ordinance (PDF), read September 29, 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 setbacksetback requirement from the closest property lines of adjacent and other propertiesThe setback requirement from the closest property lines of adjacent and other properties shall be no less than 1.25 mi/6600 feet. | 6,600 ft |
Road setbackwhichever is greaterThe minimum setback distance between a wind turbine (large scale and utility scale) and overhead utility or transmission lines, other wind turbines, electrical substations, public roads, and property lines for properties not part of a wind farm shall be no less than one and one-half times the wind turbine height or 600 feet, whichever is greater. | 600 ft |
Maximum heightMETMAST within a wind energy test facilityThe maximum height for a METMAST within a wind energy test facility is 550 feet. | 550 ft |
Noise limitmeasured at the closest property lineNoise from a wind turbine shall not exceed 55 decibels as measured at the closest property line. | 55 dBA |
Source: Northampton 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 Northampton 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 Northampton County, VA?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 60 ft from roads. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the wind turbine setbacks in Northampton County, VA?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 6,600 ft (setback requirement from the closest property lines of adjacent and other properties) from property lines and 600 ft (whichever is greater) from roads. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.