Sec. 25-447
Dimensional standards
Extracted standards
21 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Height
- Ground-mounted minor and utility-scale maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.20 ft
Ground-mounted minor and utility-scale solar energy facilities may not exceed a height of twenty (20) feet, which shall be measured from the highest natural grade below each solar panel.
Lighting
- Lighting must comply with outdoor lighting division
Lighting must comply with division 5, outdoor lighting of this chapter.
Other
- Annual report due date for ground-mounted minor and utility-scale
The facility owner and operator shall submit a report to the zoning administrator once a year, no later than July 1.
- Anti-glare and anti-reflective coating required
Solar energy facilities shall use panels that employ anti-glare technology and anti-reflective coatings that meet or exceed industry standards.
- Buffer tree spacing and size
Within the buffer area there shall be sufficient existing vegetation and trees to create an opaque visual barrier. If no such barrier exists, the applicant shall establish this landscaped strip consisting of two (2) rows of staggered evergreens ten (10) feet apart and on fifteen (15) foot centers. Such trees shall be at least three (3) feet tall at the time of planting and expected to grow to a minimum height of twenty (20) feet within ten (10) years.
- Building and zoning permit required
A building and zoning permit is required prior to the initiation of construction of each component of any solar energy facility.
- Community meeting notice period
The applicant shall inform the zoning administrator and adjacent property owners in writing of the date, time, and location of the meeting, at least seven (7) but no more than fourteen (14) days in advance of the meeting.
- Comply with national environmental and product safety standards
Solar energy facilities shall comply with generally accepted national environmental protection and product safety standards for the use of solar panels and battery technologies.
- Comply with Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code
Solar energy facilities shall comply with all provisions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
- Decommissioning removal timeline12 months
The owner or operator shall physically remove the system and restore the site no more than twelve (12) months after the date of discontinued operations.
- FAA compliance required
The applicant shall illustrate compliance with all Federal Aviation Administration regulations concerning solar energy facilities.
- Small-scale ground-mounted panels maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.12 ft
Ground-mounted panels and equipment shall not exceed a height of twelve (12) feet.
- Ground-mounted minor and utility-scale setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from rights-of-way and property lines150 ft
All ground-mounted minor and utility-scale solar energy facilities shall be set back at least one hundred fifty (150) feet from all abutting public rights-of-way and from adjacent property lines.
- Maximum site clearing per phase100 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
Site clearing shall not exceed one hundred (100) acres for each phase of development.
- Notice of change in ownership for ground-mounted minor and utility-scale10 working days
Notice shall be provided to the county within ten (10) working days of any change in ownership of the facility.
- Pollinator-smart designated area minimum percentage10 pct
At least ten (10) percent of the total acreage of the facility shall be cultivated in such a manner to encourage pollinator habitats.
- Power and communication lines buried
Power and communication lines running between ground-mounted solar panels, connection points at buildings, and other related equipment shall be buried underground.
- Roof-mounted facilities exempt from buffering
Roof-mounted solar energy facilities shall not be subject to buffering regulations.
- Roof-mounted panels maximum extension above roof5 ft
Roof-mounted solar energy facilities shall not extend more than five (5) feet above the highest point of the roof nor exceed the maximum permitted height in each use district.
- Security fencing minimum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft
The project area must be enclosed by security fencing not less than six (6) feet in height and equipped with appropriate anticlimbing device such as strands of barbed wire on top of the fence.
- Vegetative buffer width150 ft
A vegetative buffer sufficient to mitigate the visual impact of the facility is required. The buffer must consist of a landscaping strip at least one hundred fifty (150) feet wide.
From the ordinance
Solar energy facilities shall comply with the following standards.