Benton County, Washington solar ordinance
Solar: 55 ft from roads, 20 ft (Major Facilities) maximum height, 20 acres (GMA Agricultural District) minimum lot. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read October 8, 2026.
Updated October 2026
Solar rules
5 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Road setback(1) 55 feet from the centerline of any city, county, or state road right-of-way of 60 feet or less in width | 55 ft |
Setback from legally established boundary line of any known access or combined access and utility easement(3)25 feet from the legally established boundary line of any known access or combined access and utility easement adjacent to or within the Facility Area. | 25 ft |
Setback from adjacent public street right-of-way, residentially zoned property, or residential usedistance for screening exemption(i) Solar facilities with panels located at least one hundred fifty (150) feet from an adjacent public street right-of-way, residentially zoned property, or residential use shall not require screening. | 150 ft |
Maximum heightMajor Facilities(2) Height: Twenty (20) feet maximum. | 20 ft |
Minimum lot sizeGMA Agricultural District(a) The size of a lot in the GMA Agricultural District shall be a minimum of twenty (20) acres (1/32 of a section). | 20 acres |
Source: Benton County ordinance (PDF), read October 8, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Washington state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All Washington rules and counties.
State siting: Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC)
Wind, solar and other alternative energy projects of any size, and storage facilities, may opt in to state certification by EFSEC instead of local permits; projects that do not opt in are permitted by the county.
RCW 80.50.060(1)(b) (as amended through 2026 c 244). Source
Limits on local rules
On the state route, the council can set aside local laws.
RCW 80.50.090, 80.50.100 (DOE and Berkeley Lab inventory, June 2024). Source
Solar standards in state law
Applies to projects EFSEC certifies, which must meet the state's environmental noise limits (set by land class: an industrial or farm source may reach 60 dBA at homes by day and 50 dBA at night); the same Ecology limits apply statewide to any noise source.
| Noise | 60 dBA day, 50 dBA night (10 pm to 7 am) at homes from an industrial or farm-land source |
WAC 463-62-030 (amended WSR 25-12-020, effective June 22, 2025), adopting WAC 173-60-040. Source
Every Washington figure in one spreadsheet
29 figures from 5 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. Plus the moratorium or ban on file and Washington state law.
How these figures were read
We found Benton 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 Benton County, WA?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 55 ft from roads. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in Benton County, WA?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 20 ft (Major Facilities). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What is the minimum lot size for a solar farm in Benton County, WA?
The ordinance sets a minimum lot size of 20 acres (GMA Agricultural District). Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.