Saint Charles Parish adopts stricter rules for large-scale solar projects

The Saint Charles Parish Council unanimously adopted ordinance 2026-0082 on March 16, 2026, establishing new development standards for large-scale solar energy systems, including expanded setbacks, landscaping requirements and glare mitigation.

The ordinance, which the council opened for public hearing and then voted on the same night, updates Appendix A, Section 7 of the parish zoning ordinance to add standards intended to reduce visual and operational impacts of utility-scale solar installations. Councilmember Albert told colleagues the measure had been vetted by the parish legislative committee and the Planning Commission.

During the public-comment portion, Jeff Arnold, executive director of America First Energy Projects, Louisiana, said the draft’s 300-foot setback was “a little extreme” and risked making projects financially unviable. “Developers will view that as a virtual moratorium,” Arnold said, urging the council to consider smaller setbacks closer to national norms.

Council members defended the ordinance as a local planning tool to protect neighborhoods. Councilmember O'Daniels thanked administration and staff for drafting proactive rules that also address decommissioning for mid‑sized sites and noted the parish had opted out of the state Act 279 to retain local control over siting.

The ordinance passed unanimously; the council’s clerk announced the vote as unanimous. The parish plans to use the new standards to guide future solar project reviews and to balance developer interest with resident protections.