Brooklyn Park, MN Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

1002(D) sets the zoning standards for solar energy systems citywide. Passive or building-integrated solar systems are exempt and regulated like any other building element, but active roof- and ground-mounted systems must follow specific rules. 1001(B). Roof-mounted systems must stay within the applicable district's maximum building height, while ground-mounted systems cannot exceed 15 feet in height when tilted at their steepest angle. Systems must be screened from view where feasible without hurting performance, though roof-mounted systems that are not visible from the nearest public right-of-way, or that meet pitch and height thresholds (matching the roof pitch and rising no more than ten inches above a pitched roof, or no more than five feet above a flat roof), are exempt from further screening.

Ground-mounted systems cannot cover more than half the principal building's footprint and are exempt from lot coverage limits if the ground beneath stays vegetated and uncompacted. All systems must be positioned to minimize glare toward traffic and neighboring properties, and feeder lines must run underground within the parcel. A solar system left nonfunctional for a full year is deemed abandoned and a public nuisance, and the owner must remove it, including transmission equipment, after obtaining a demolition permit. 01, administered by the city's Certified Building Official, with the city's fee schedule pricing a solar panel permit on a $4,000 valuation basis.