Nottoway County, Virginia solar and battery storage ordinance
Solar: 300 ft (from adjacent property lines) from property lines, 1,200 ft (from a habitable dwelling) from homes, 300 ft (from all public rights - of - way) from roads. Battery storage: 300 ft (from adjacent property lines) from property lines, 1,200 ft (from a habitable dwelling) from homes, 300 ft (from all public rights - of - way) from roads. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 29, 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 setbackfrom adjacent property linesa distance of at least three hundred (300) feet from adjacent property lines. | 300 ft |
Setback from homesfrom a habitable dwelling(1,200) feet from a habitable dwelling | 1,200 ft |
Road setbackfrom all public rights - of - wayThe project area shall be set back a distance of at least three hundred (300) feet from all public rights - of - way | 300 ft |
Setback from perennial streamA buffer of at least 250 feet is required on either side of any perennial stream | 250 ft |
Maximum heightGround - mounted Solar Energy generation and Battery Energy Storage facilities and equipment shall not exceed a height of twenty - five (25) feet | 25 ft |
Fence heightThe Project Area shall be enclosed by security fencing not less than six (6) feet in height | 6 ft |
Maximum project sizemedium-scale sites within the unincorporated areasThe total megawattage for all medium - scale sites within the entirety of the uninco rporated areas of the County shall not exceed 170 megawatts. | 170 MW |
Source: Nottoway County ordinance (PDF), read September 29, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Battery storage 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 setbackfrom adjacent property linesa distance of at least three hundred (300) feet from adjacent property lines. | 300 ft |
Setback from homesfrom a habitable dwelling(1,200) feet from a habitable dwelling | 1,200 ft |
Road setbackfrom all public rights - of - wayThe project area shall be set back a distance of at least three hundred (300) feet from all public rights - of - way | 300 ft |
Setback from perennial streamA buffer of at least 250 feet is required on either side of any perennial stream | 250 ft |
Maximum heightGround - mounted Solar Energy generation and Battery Energy Storage facilities and equipment shall not exceed a height of twenty - five (25) feet | 25 ft |
Fence heightThe Project Area shall be enclosed by security fencing not less than six (6) feet in height | 6 ft |
Source: Nottoway 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
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 Nottoway 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 Nottoway County, VA?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 300 ft (from all public rights - of - way) from roads, 1,200 ft (from a habitable dwelling) from homes and 300 ft (from adjacent property lines) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Nottoway County, VA?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 25 ft. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the battery storage setbacks in Nottoway County, VA?
The county's ordinance sets battery storage back 300 ft (from all public rights - of - way) from roads, 1,200 ft (from a habitable dwelling) from homes and 300 ft (from adjacent property lines) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.