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Board tightens rules for large solar projects, adds acreage cap and tougher setback, decommissioning requirements
Summary
Rockingham County changed its zoning to require special-use permits for large solar energy facilities in certain districts, set an 1,800-acre countywide aggregate cap, per-site limits and new setbacks, buffer, viewshed, and decommissioning standards in an ordinance adopted June 24, 2026.
Deputy Zoning Administrator Daniel J. Barnett told the Board that staff reworked OA26-0034 after the item was tabled in February and recommended changing "Solar energy facility, large" from permitted by right in certain districts to allowable only by special use permit in I-1 and PID and other listed districts.
The ordinance amends Table 17-606 and Section 17-607 to impose an aggregate county cap of 1,800 acres approved for large solar energy facilities, a commonly applied per-site cap of 50 acres for many zoning districts (with a limited exception allowing up to 25% of the aggregate cap—450 acres—to be made up of sites between 50 and 150 acres), and layered setbacks (100–150 feet from property lines and 200–250 feet from existing dwellings depending on facility size, with reductions possible by notarized adjoining-owner consent). The ordinance also adds strict vegetative-buffer and pollinator-friendly ground cover standards, viewshed simulations, historic-site exclusions, requirements for community meetings with mailed notice to property owners within one mile, and detailed decommissioning plans with required surety, reclamation, and county-access provisions.
Mr. Barnett noted staff will make additional future updates to align the ordinance with state law changes prompted by House Bill 711. The Board adopted the ordinance amendment by roll-call vote 5-0; the ordinance is effective June 24, 2026.
