St. Croix County, Wisconsin solar and wind ordinance
Solar: 5 ft from property lines, 25 ft from roads, 35 ft maximum height. Wind: 50 dBA (daytime hours) noise limit. 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 |
|---|---|
Property line setbackAny portion of the SES shall not encroach within five (5) feet of any property line and within 25 feet of any road right - of - way. | 5 ft |
Property line setbackBattery storage facilities within a large SES systemBattery storage facilities within a large SES system shall be a minimum of 50 feet from a lot line or road right - of - way. | 50 ft |
Road setbackAny portion of the SES shall not encroach within five (5) feet of any property line and within 25 feet of any road right - of - way. | 25 ft |
Road setbackBattery storage facilities within a large SES systemBattery storage facilities within a large SES system shall be a minimum of 50 feet from a lot line or road right - of - way. | 50 ft |
Maximum heightA SES shall not exceed 35 feet in height. | 35 ft |
Source: St. Croix County ordinance (PDF), read October 8, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Wind rules
2 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Noise limitdaytime hoursThe noise generated by the operation of a wind energy system may not exceed 50 dB (A) during the daytime hours | 50 dBA |
Noise limitnighttime hoursand 45 dB (A) during the nighttime hours | 45 dBA |
Source: St. Croix County ordinance (PDF), read October 8, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Wisconsin state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All Wisconsin rules and counties.
State siting: Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Projects of 100 MW or more need a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Public Service Commission.
Wis. Stat. 196.491 (PSC solar application filing requirements). Source
Limits on local rules
A local restriction on solar must protect health or safety, not raise cost or cut output much, or allow a comparable alternative.
Wis. Stat. 66.0401(1m) (DOE and Berkeley Lab inventory, June 2024). Source
Wind standards in state law
Caps local wind ordinances (a town or county may adopt these figures or looser ones, never stricter), and the PSC weighs the same standards when it reviews projects of 100 MW or more.
| Homes (non-participating) | lesser of 1,250 ft or 3.1 × tip height |
| Schools, churches, community buildings | lesser of 1,250 ft or 3.1 × tip height |
| Property line (non-participating) | 1.1 × tip height |
| Public roads | 1.1 × tip height |
| Noise | 50 dBA day, 45 dBA night |
| Shadow flicker | 30 hours/year |
Wis. Admin. Code PSC 128.10, 128.13, 128.14, 128.15 (effective March 1, 2011); Wis. Stat. 66.0401. Source
Every Wisconsin figure in one spreadsheet
34 figures from 5 counties and 2 towns and townships, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 4 of those places are not on this site. Plus Wisconsin state law.
How these figures were read
We found St. Croix 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 St. Croix County, WI?
The county's ordinance sets solar facilities back 5 ft from property lines, 25 ft from roads, 50 ft (Battery storage facilities within a large SES system) from property lines and 50 ft (Battery storage facilities within a large SES system) from roads. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
How tall can a solar farm be in St. Croix County, WI?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 35 ft. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.