Brunswick County, NC Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- UDO § 5.4.11, unincorporated county only
- Ground-mount height cap
- 6 feet
- Roof-mount limit
- Cannot extend beyond building perimeter
- Components
- Must have UL listing, anti-reflective coating
- Adopted
- Ord. No. UDO-19-02, § 11, 9-19-19
Summary
Brunswick County, North Carolina allows roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar collectors as an accessory use in any unincorporated zoning district, with application drawings, an equipment UL listing, and a 6-foot height cap for ground-mounted systems required under UDO Section 5.4.11.
B.Ground-Mounted Solar Systems—Ground-mounted solar collectors (accessory) may not exceed six feet (6') in height and shall meet the minimum zoning setback for the zoning district in which located, except it may be located within the front yard setback. Screening shall be required consistent with Section 6.4.2.A.1 of the UDO... E.Compliance with Building and Electrical Codes—All solar collector systems shall be in conformance with the North Carolina Building Codes.
Full Breakdown
11 of the Unified Development Ordinance permits solar collectors as an accessory use to existing structures in any unincorporated zoning district, subject to specific design standards. A); pitched-roof applications must show the collector slope against the roof slope in elevation drawings, and flat-roof applications must show the distance to the roof edge and any parapets. B). C). D). E); a commentary note to that subsection flags that compliance includes meeting Brunswick County's wind-load requirements of 120 mph west of US 17 and 130 mph east of US 17.
The section was adopted by Ord. No. UDO-19-02, Section 11, September 19, 2019. This standard governs unincorporated Brunswick County only; the incorporated beach towns and Leland administer their own solar permitting rules.
Violations & Fines
Solar installations are reviewed through the Brunswick County Planning Department's development permit process, and the North Carolina Building Codes compliance is verified by the county's Building Inspections Department at permit issuance. A ground-mounted system installed over 6 feet, without required setback or screening, or without a UL-listed component, can be denied a permit or cited for correction under the UDO's general enforcement authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put ground-mounted solar panels in my front yard in unincorporated Brunswick County?
Do rooftop solar panels have to stay within the roof edge?
What wind load do solar mounts need to meet in Brunswick County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brunswick County
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