Appling County adopts solar-panel ordinance to mirror state law, adds local enforcement

Appling County commissioners voted to adopt a solar-panel ordinance intended to align the county with the state law enacted last year while adding local registration and enforcement provisions.

County staff presented the proposed ordinance as a model developed in cooperation with neighboring counties and matched to the new state statute. A staff member summarized the county's role as providing additional oversight and a local registry: "we have a little more policing authority as well, with registering notification, knowing where these farms are, where they're located," the staff member said.

Commissioners asked whether the county would be imposing standards stricter than the state's requirements. A commissioner asked, "But we're not holding people to a higher standard than the state on solar-powered projects?" The staff member replied that the county ordinance aligns with state requirements but gives the county authority to "police it within our confines of our county limits." Another commissioner characterized the local language as giving "a little more teeth."

After questions, a commissioner moved to approve the ordinance as written. The motion was seconded, and the board voted to approve the ordinance as presented. Commissioners asked whether there was an effective date; the motion carried with the chair saying the effective date would be "today." The board did not record additional amendments during the discussion.

The ordinance adoption formalizes local procedures for registering solar projects and gives the county a local enforcement role; the staff presentation said the measure was intended to implement the state law at the county level and to provide notice to owners of current and future projects.

The county clerk will publish the ordinance and the board directed staff to proceed with implementation steps outlined in the ordinance.