Sussex County, Virginia solar ordinance
Solar: 150 ft (utility-scale solar facility) from property lines, 300 ft (utility-scale solar facility) from homes, 150 ft (utility-scale solar facility) from roads. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 30, 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 |
|---|---|
Property line setbackutility-scale solar facilitya. 150 feet from adjacent property lines. | 150 ft |
Setback from homesutility-scale solar facilityc. 300 feet from a dwelling. | 300 ft |
Road setbackutility-scale solar facilityb. 150 feet from all public rights-of-way. | 150 ft |
Maximum heightlowest edge of photovoltaic panelsThe maximum height of the lowest edge of photovoltaic panels shall be ten feet as measured from the finished grade. | 10 ft |
Maximum heighthighest edge of photovoltaic panelsThe maximum height of the highest edge of photovoltaic panels shall not exceed 15 feet as measured from the finished grade. | 15 ft |
Maximum heightother facility structuresThe maximum height of other facility structures shall not exceed 15 feet. | 15 ft |
Fence heightThe facilities shall be enclosed by security fencing not less than six feet in height and topped with barbed wire, as appropriate. | 6 ft |
Minimum lot sizeutility-scale solar facilityThe minimum area of a utility-scale solar facility shall be 100 acres or more. | 100 acres |
Maximum lot coverageutility-scale solar facilityIn no case shall any utility-scale facility have a maximum coverage area more than 65 percent in accordance with section 34-910(b)(2). | 65% |
Source: Sussex 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 Sussex 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 Sussex County, VA?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 150 ft (utility-scale solar facility) from property lines, 150 ft (utility-scale solar facility) from roads and 300 ft (utility-scale solar facility) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Sussex County, VA?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 10 ft (lowest edge of photovoltaic panels), 15 ft (highest edge of photovoltaic panels) and 15 ft (other facility structures). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What is the minimum lot size for a solar farm in Sussex County, VA?
The ordinance sets a minimum lot size of 100 acres (utility-scale solar facility). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.