Wake County, NC Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- UDO § 4-61-1
- FAA trigger
- Over 0.5 acre near airport
- Decommissioning plan
- Required with permit application
- Recording
- Filed with Register of Deeds
Summary
Ground- and roof-mounted solar energy systems in unincorporated Wake County need permits, with FAA notice and a recorded decommissioning plan required for larger arrays.
Solar energy systems (SES) of more than one-half acre in panel area...must provide notification to airport operations. Before issuance of any permits, the applicant shall submit a copy of the FAA airspace determination letter confirming the proposal does not pose a hazard to flight navigation. ... A decommissioning plan...shall be submitted with permit application.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Unified Development Ordinance: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
Wake County UDO § 4-61-1 sets supplemental standards for Solar Energy Systems. Systems exceeding one-half acre in panel area within five miles of a public-use airport must notify airport operations, and the applicant must submit the FAA's airspace determination letter before any permit issues. A decommissioning plan, covering equipment removal, site restoration and a completion timeline, must be submitted with the permit application and recorded with the Register of Deeds before final inspection.
Violations & Fines
Installing a large-panel or ground-mounted solar array without the required FAA notification or an approved, recorded decommissioning plan violates UDO § 4-61-1's permit standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do solar panels need a permit in Wake County?
What triggers FAA notification for a solar project?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wake County
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