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Solar Energy Standards - Urban Communities
Updated 2014by: Brian Ross, AICPThis model solar energy system ordinance with commentary for Minnesota communities addresses standards for accessory solar energy systems, provides for solar access protections, prohibits private covenants from restricting solar energy use, and offers incentives for solar energy system installations and solar access protections.Minnesota -
Renewable Energy Ordinance Framework – Solar
2015This document provides municipalities with a framework for drafting their own ordinances for small-scale accessory solar energy systems, offering a menu of sample ordinance language options to build a customized ordinance that addresses local issues.Philadelphia, PA -
Municipal Guide to Planning for and Regulating Alternative Energy Systems
2010This guidebook includes model zoning provisions and commentary for both accessory and primary-use solar energy systems.Lancaster County, PA -
Expedited Permit Process for PV Systems
July 2012by: Bill BrooksThis report introduces a model permit process for making residential (or small-scale) solar development less complex and more streamlined. -
A Step by Step Tool Kit for Local Governments to Go Solar
2009This guide is designed to help cities and counties in California use policies, programs, and investments to support solar energy use. -
A Municipal Guidebook for Solar Zoning and Permitting: Zoning and Permitting Solar in Your Municipality
December 2012by: Kay Pierce, Paul Lauer, Gordon IsraelsonThis guide is designed to help municipalities update zoning regulations and permitting processes to encourage solar development. -
CSRA-RC, GA, Integrating Solar Land Uses: A Regulatory Template for CSRA Communities
2015This guide is designed to help cities and counties in east-central Georgia, adopt solar development regulations. -
DVRPC, PA-NJ-DE, Renewable Energy Ordinance Framework: Solar PV
February 2015This guide is designed to help municipalities in metropolitan Philadelphia develop and adopt zoning regulations for small-scale solar energy systems. -
California Solar Energy Facility Permit Streamlining Guide
February 2012by: Tim Snellings, Jennifer BarrettThis guide is designed to help counties in California develop zoning regulations and permitting processes to streamline solar development. -
Rhode Island Renewable Energy Guidelines: Solar Energy Systems Model Ordinance Templates Zoning and Taxation
February 2019by: Nancy Hess, Paul Gonsalves, Christopher KearnsThis model presents templates to help municipalities in Rhode Island adopt zoning and taxation regulations to support solar development. -
NCTCOG, TX, Model Ordinance Guidelines for Municipalities
July 2016This model provides a general framework to help cities in metropolitan Dallas-Fort Worth adopt solar development regulations. -
Georgia Model Solar Zoning Ordinance
Version 1.0, July 2018This model ordinance provides a template to help cities and counties in Georgia draft development regulations for different solar energy system types and sizes. -
Illinois Solar Model Ordinance
August 2020This model ordinance provides a template to help planners in Illinois draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
Iowa Solar Model Ordinance
August 2020This model ordinance provides a template to help planners in Iowa draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
Wisconsin Solar Model Ordinance
August 2020This model ordinance provides a template to help planners in Wisconsin draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
Minnesota Solar Model Ordinance
August 2020This model ordinance provides a template to help planners in Minnesota draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
Kentucky Model Solar Zoning Ordinance
September 2020This model ordinance provides a template to help planners in Kentucky draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
New York Solar Guidebook for Local Governments
August 2020This guide includes several tools and resources to support municipalities with the development, installation, and maintenance of solar energy projects. -
Model Site Plan Regulations and Conditional Use Permits to Support Solar Energy Systems in Maine Municipalities
February 2020This model ordinance provides a template to help planners in Maine draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
Lake County, IL, Solar Energy Task Force Model Ordinance
2019This model ordinance provides a template to help municipal planners in Lake County, Illinois, draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
York County, PA, Solar Energy Systems Model Ordinance
2018This model ordinance provides a template to help municipal planners in York County, Pennsylvania, draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different contexts. -
Solar Energy Standards - Counties
Updated February 2014by: Brian Ross, AICPThis model ordinance for counties in Minnesota provides a template for zoning regulations for large-scale solar energy systems. -
Template Ordinance for Solar Energy Development in North Carolina
October 2016This model solar ordinance template for North Carolina communities offers simple standards for three categories of solar energy systems covering both accessory and principle-use systems, along with additional information and resources on solar energy use. -
Model Zoning for the Regulation of Solar Energy Systems
March 2014This model zoning ordinance for Massachusetts cities and towns offers various amendments to local ordinances to facilitate development of solar energy systems at small, medium, and large scales. -
Model As-of-Right Zoning Bylaw: Allowing Use of Large-Scale Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations
December 2014This model bylaw from Massachusetts offers zoning standards to facilitate development of large-scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic installations. -
Lake County, IL, Solar and Geothermal Energy Systems Model Ordinance
September 2010This model ordinance developed for Illinois communities addresses accessory and utility-scale solar energy systems. -
A Model Ordinance for Energy Projects
July 2005This model ordinance offers guidance to Oregon cities and counties on siting solar and other alternative energy utility projects. -
Model Regulations: Alternative Energy
Sustainable Land Use Code Project, February 2013This model ordinance from the Capitol Region Council of Governments covers alternative energy sources including solar energy, offering model code provisions for small accessory rooftop systems, accessory and primary-use ground-mounted arrays, and solar design and solar-ready home requirements. -
Model Regulations: Solar Access
Sustainable Land Use Code Project, November 2013This model ordinance from the Capitol Region Council of Governments establishes a solar access permit system for solar energy system owners, and offers a scale-up option that establishes automatic solar access protections in designated solar access areas. -
Model Ordinance for Larger-Scale Solar Energy Projects in Virginia
December 2012This model ordinance provides suggested language for consideration by Virginia localities in framing their own local solar ordinance for larger-scale solar energy projects. -
Model Ordinance for Smaller-Scale Solar Energy Projects in Virginia (By Right Permitting)
2012This model ordinance provides suggested language for consideration by Virginia localities in framing their own local solar ordinance for smaller-scale solar energy projects. -
Solar Power Purchase Agreements: A Toolkit for Local Governments
March 2015This guide is designed to help local governments solicit and execute solar power purchase agreements. -
Planning & Zoning for Solar Energy Systems: A Guide for Michigan Local Governments
October 2021by: Wayne Beyea, AICP, Harmony Fierke-Gmazel, AICP, Sarah MillsThis guide is designed to help municipalities in Michigan plan for and regulate solar energy use at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
SGRC, GA, Model Ordinance for the Development of Solar Energy Systems and Solar Energy Facilities
October 2019This model ordinance provides a template for local governments to regulate solar energy systems and facilities in residential and non-residential areas. -
Model Small-Scale Solar Siting Ordinance
Summer 2012This model small-scale solar-siting ordinance for New York municipalities provides standards for different types of solar energy systems and includes provisions regarding permits, appeals, safety, and zoning for future solar access. -
Model Solar Energy Facility Permit Streamlining Ordinance
February 2012This model ordinance offers permitting and development standards for four types of solar energy systems (direct use, accessory use, secondary use, and primary use). -
New Hampshire Sustainable Energy Association Model Solar Zoning Ordinance
April 2018This model ordinance provides a template to help planners in New Hampshire draft zoning regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different contexts. -
Renewable Energy Combining Zone
February 2012This model ordinance establishes a Combining Zone for large-scale renewable energy facilities in appropriate areas. -
Cumberland County, PA, Solar Energy Systems Model Ordinance
April 2011This model ordinance provides a template to help counties implement accessory and principal solar energy systems, as well as solar easements. -
Tri-County RPC, PA, Solar Energy Systems Model Ordinance
This "all-inclusive" model ordinance for Pennsylvania communities addresses both accessory and principal solar energy systems and provides for solar easements. -
Cape Cod Commission, MA, Model Large-Scale Solar Bylaw
This model bylaw acts as a regulatory tool for communities that will help provide guidance for the review and permitting process of large-scale solar projects. -
Monroe County, PA, Model Ordinance for On-site Usage of Solar Energy Systems
This model ordinance permits accessory solar energy systems in any district subject to standards.
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