Carver County, MN Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

057(C) governs solar installations in the unincorporated county. A small SES is permitted by right on parcels with an existing single-family home, but height and coverage limits still apply: building- or roof-mounted panels cannot exceed 35 feet, ground- or pole-mounted arrays cannot exceed 20 feet when tilted to maximum angle, and roof-mounted systems on detached garages or accessory structures cannot cover more than 80% of the south-facing or flat roof they sit on, on top of meeting the current Minnesota State Building Code and Chapter 150 of the county code.

Panels on attached garages or the residence itself just need to meet the State Building Code and Chapter 150. Every SES, small or large, must meet the underlying zoning district's structure setback requirements and use electric components carrying an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listing. Before a grid-tied photovoltaic system is installed, the owner must give the Department evidence that the utility company has been notified of the intent to interconnect; off-grid systems are exempt. 052, which requires a pre-application meeting with county land management staff before the application that triggers a public hearing goes in.

The CUP application for a large SES must state the number of panels to be installed and include a landscaping and screening plan prepared by a licensed landscape architect. Large SES equipment, including fencing and the array itself, must sit at least 50 feet from adjacent property lines or public rights-of-way and 500 feet from neighboring residences not on the same parcel, with screening berms or evergreen buffers required within 500 to 750 feet of roads, residences, or residentially platted land, and financial surety posted under the county fee schedule to guarantee that screening establishes.