Alamance County, NC Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

3, all solar energy systems (SES) must obtain a permit from the Alamance County Planning Department before any construction or operational activity begins. The applicant or an authorized corporate officer must first meet with Planning Staff, in person or by video conference, at least 14 days before submitting a formal application and site plan, and must identify in writing any other permits needed along with a timeline for obtaining them. Once a complete application is filed, an informational hearing is scheduled for the next regular Planning Board meeting, where the applicant and community members may present information and comment.

All applicants must submit a site plan drawn to scale by a Registered Surveyor or Engineer under Appendix I standards; the Planning Department reviews it for compliance and makes a recommendation, and the Planning Board then directs the Planning Director to approve or, with a written statement of reasons, deny the permit. A denial may be appealed through the ordinance's appeals procedure. After construction, the owner must submit a final "as-built" site survey in two paper copies, and the Planning Department performs a final site inspection to confirm the SES matches the approved plan and that all other required governmental permits are in hand before operations may continue.

Once issued, the county's Land Records/GIS system is updated to flag the parcel as containing an SES. 8. 6 requires renewal every three years with a satisfactory inspection, a non-refundable renewal fee set annually by the Board of Commissioners, a scheduled site visit, proof of continued compliance with screening and fencing conditions, and proof of Tier II chemical reporting where applicable.