Table of Contents

Form-Based ZOning

The county’s zoning code includes a mapped mandatory form-based overlay zone (§4.04.00). It includes six transect zones all with different permissible land uses, form standards, building frontage types, façade design standards, parking standards, and landscaping standards.

Solar Energy

The county's land development code defines both accessory and primary-use solar (Sec. 2.00.00). Primary-use Solar Generation Stations are conditional uses in agricultural and utility districts; Solar Energy Systems are permitted as accessory uses in all districts (Sec. 3.01.03). The code also includes a section of supplemental design standards intended to facilitate the commercial generation and distribution of solar power and the use of on-site solar energy systems in the unincorporated County (Sec. 7.10.28). Solar generation stations require major site plan submission with a conditional use permit. Supplemental standards address fencing, prohibition in wetlands and environmentally sensitive areas, setbacks, and landscaping/screening compliance; maximum lot coverage restrictions may be waived (Sec. 7.10.28.A). For solar energy systems, roof-mounted systems are exempt from building height requirements and must be set back 2 feet from the roof edge; building-integrated systems are limited to 10 feet above maximum height limits; and ground/pole-mounted systems must be located in side and rear yards if possible and may encroach into required setbacks. Landscape requirements may be waived to ensure optimal solar access. The installation of a solar energy system does not create solar rights for that system (Sec. 7.0.28.B).