Planning commission moves to schedule hearing to align solar rules with Virginia House Bill 711

The Rockbridge County Planning Commission on June 10 discussed revisions to the county solar ordinance needed to comply with Virginia House Bill 711, instructed staff to update setback and land-disturbance language, and voted to take the draft to a July 8 public hearing.

County staff reviewed the statute and explained proposed local edits. Key points discussed include:

- Applicability: Staff proposed clarifying that the county's solar ordinance would apply to ground-mounted solar facilities of one megawatt or greater, consistent with the threshold noted in the bill.

- Buffers and setbacks: The state law prescribes ranges for setbacks and buffers: vegetative buffers may not be required to be taller than three feet at planting and must be between 25 and 50 feet in width; setbacks from occupied community buildings and dwellings on nonparticipating properties are between 150 and 200 feet; setbacks from adjacent roadbeds fall between 50 and 100 feet; wetlands setbacks vary by project size and location; shared property lines for nonparticipating properties carry a 50—75-foot range. The Commission discussed that some of these provisions narrow local flexibility but others (for example, decommissioning and real-party-of-interest disclosure) improve standardization and transparency.

- Panel height and agrivoltaics: The bill increases allowed maximum panel height in some cases from the county's prior 15-foot limit to up to 25 feet (with exceptions such as agrivoltaics).

County Attorney John Dryden read key setback language from House Bill 711 into the record. Commissioners questioned where local flexibility remains and asked staff to incorporate the statutorily required ranges and land-disturbance rule changes into a draft ordinance.

Commissioner Adam Sandridge moved to take the zoning text amendment to public hearing on July 8, 2026; Commissioner David Whitmore seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: The state law changes impose minimum standards and ranges that limit some previous local discretion and require the county to update its ordinance prior to the law—taking effect on July 1, 2026. Staff noted required reporting to the State Corporation Commission for local actions affecting solar siting.

What’s next: Staff will incorporate setbacks, buffer and land-disturbance updates into the draft and present it at the July 8 public hearing for further public comment and final Commission recommendation.