Scott County, Virginia solar ordinance
Solar: 100 ft (Utility-Scale Solar Generation Facilities) from property lines, 20 ft (Utility-Scale Solar Generation Facilities) maximum height, 50 dBA (Utility-Scale Solar Generation Facilities) noise limit. 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 setbackUtility-Scale Solar Generation FacilitiesThe project area shall be set back a distance of at least 150 feet from all public rights-of-way and main buildings on adjoining parcels, and a distance of at least 100 feet from adjacent property lines. | 100 ft |
Road setbackUtility-Scale Solar Generation Facilities, public rights-of-wayThe project area shall be set back a distance of at least 150 feet from all public rights-of-way and main buildings on adjoining parcels, and a distance of at least 100 feet from adjacent property lines. | 150 ft |
Setback from main buildings on adjoining parcelsUtility-Scale Solar Generation FacilitiesThe project area shall be set back a distance of at least 150 feet from all public rights-of-way and main buildings on adjoining parcels, and a distance of at least 100 feet from adjacent property lines. | 150 ft |
Maximum heightUtility-Scale Solar Generation FacilitiesGround-mounted solar energy generation facilities shall not exceed a height of 20 feet, which shall be measured from the highest natural grade below each solar panel. | 20 ft |
Fence heightUtility-Scale Solar Generation FacilitiesThe project area shall be enclosed by security fencing not less than six feet in height and equipped with appropriate anticlimbing device such as strands of barbed wire on top of the fence. | 6 ft |
Noise limitUtility-Scale Solar Generation FacilitiesInverter noise shall not exceed 50 dBA, measured at the facility property line. | 50 dBA |
Source: Scott 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 Scott 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 Scott County, VA?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 150 ft (Utility-Scale Solar Generation Facilities, public rights-of-way) from roads and 100 ft (Utility-Scale Solar Generation Facilities) from property lines. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Scott County, VA?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 20 ft (Utility-Scale Solar Generation Facilities). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.