Kings County expands where commercial solar can be sited in AG‑40 zone with safeguards for high‑priority farmland
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Summary
The board adopted Development Code Text Change No. 668.2 to allow commercial solar in the AG‑40 zone on medium‑high priority agricultural lands (still excluding high‑priority lands), subject to conditional use permits and CEQA review where required.
The Kings County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 18 adopted Development Code Text Change No. 668.2, amending section 11.12(b)(2)(a) of the county development code to allow commercial solar projects in AG‑40 zone parcels designated as medium‑high priority agricultural land under the 2035 General Plan, while continuing to prohibit projects on lands designated as high priority.
Planner Noel Tomlinson told the board the AG‑40 zone covers rural areas south of Kansas Avenue and excludes the urban fringe of Corcoran, Stratford, Kettleman City and high‑slope coastal range areas. Tomlinson said the amendment responds to private interest in siting, maintaining and decommissioning commercial solar where soils are often saline and water access limited; any project would still require a conditional use permit and individual CEQA review as appropriate.
Tomlinson said the Planning Commission held a public hearing on Oct. 6, 2025, received no testimony, and recommended adoption by Resolution No. 25‑07. Staff said the text change is exempt from CEQA review under the general rule (CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3)) and that any specific project would be subject to its own environmental review through the conditional use permit process.
Supervisors asked whether battery storage was included; Tomlinson said battery storage is typically incidental to solar projects but that the county allows standalone battery storage only under separate review. After brief discussion the board approved the ordinance amendment on a unanimous roll call.
The amendment does not apply to AG‑20 or exclusive agricultural zones in the north, where better soils and water access exist. Tomlinson emphasized the change preserves protections for high‑priority agricultural land while broadening potential development options in marginal ag areas under a conditional use review process.
The board’s action was adoption of ordinance No. 668.2 amending article 11, section 11.12(b)(2)(a) of the Kings County development code.