Bloomington, IL Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Solar energy conversion facilities in the City of Bloomington fall under Zoning Code § 44-1031, which applies to both private (residential/accessory) and commercial installations. Building or roof-mounted systems may be located on any principal or accessory structure and should be flush-mounted where possible; they may not exceed the maximum building height allowed in the zoning district, and panels may not extend beyond three feet on a pitched roof or four feet on a flat roof past the roof surface. Freestanding private systems are accessory to the principal use: in Residential Districts they are limited to the rear and side yards and capped at four feet in height, while freestanding systems in other districts may reach 15 feet, subject to the accessory-structure setbacks of § 44-908.

A community solar system serving multiple users under a recorded easement requires site plan approval under § 44-1709. Commercial solar facilities, permitted as an accessory use in the B-1 and B-2 Business Districts, need full site plan approval showing acreage, drainage, grading at two-foot contour intervals, and the location of arrays and support equipment; commercial arrays are capped at 20 feet in height and must sit on a lot of at least one acre with a 200-foot minimum width. Power and communication lines between panel banks must be buried underground unless bedrock, watercourses or distance make that infeasible, subject to the Zoning Administrator's approval.

Commercial systems within 500 feet of an airport or its approach zones must submit a Solar Glare Hazard Analysis Tool (SGHAT) study meeting FAA and Central Illinois Regional Airport Master Plan guidance. Any solar facility, private or commercial, that stops functioning must be removed by the owner within 120 days at the owner's sole cost.