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Surry County adopts tighter solar ordinance with grandfathering clause
Summary
The Surry County Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive update to the county's solar energy ordinance including new project categories, stronger application and performance standards, a 7% parcel cap and a grandfathering provision for projects already in process.
The Surry County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt ordinance amendment 2025‑01, updating the county's solar energy rules to align the zoning code with the 2023 comprehensive plan. The measure adds definitions for distributed, community‑scale and utility‑scale solar, new application requirements and performance standards, and establishes a 7% land‑use cap on parcels seeking large solar projects.
County planner Wade, who presented the amendment, said the package covers application narrative requirements, community impact assessments, traffic and cultural/historic studies, landscaping and buffering, and added performance expectations including a required project liaison, independent engineers and construction surety. "The solar ordinance is breaking down a couple of different pieces," Wade said, noting the changes implement the comprehensive plan and provide board discretion to grant waivers for well‑justified projects.
The county attorney, Perkins, recommended including a grandfathering provision to clarify how projects already in the pipeline would be treated. Perkins told the board the enactment clause could allow pending applications to continue under prior rules provided applicants do not expand their proposed acreage or change the use after the ordinance takes effect.
Supervisors conducted a roll‑call vote on the amendment. Supervisor Pierce voted yes; Supervisor Hardy voted no; Supervisor Calhoun voted yes; the chair indicated a yes vote. The motion carried.
Why it matters: the ordinance sets local standards that will shape where and how large solar arrays are sited in Surry County going forward, including setbacks and buffers that staff said are more stringent than the 2018 rules. The grandfathering clause is intended to avoid unintentionally halting projects already mid‑application. The updated ordinance also explicitly reserves board authority to modify requirements for specific projects.
The board did not adopt any additional amendments at this meeting; staff said the planning commission had recommended approval and the administration will publish the final enacted text on the county website.
