Cass County, MO Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

661 of the Cass County Zoning Order, adopted by Ordinance No. 24-08 on October 23, 2024, splits solar systems into three tiers: Personal or Accessory Solar Energy Conversion Systems used for on-site consumption; Limited Scale Solar Energy Conversion Systems up to twenty contiguous acres, typically cooperative arrangements; and Commercial/Utility Scale Solar Energy Conversion Systems, or 'solar farms,' built to sell power into the grid. The county's Special Use Permit standards under this section do not apply to personal or accessory systems, meaning a homeowner installing rooftop or small on-site panels for their own consumption does not go through the SUP process, though net metering back to a utility is still allowed.

610. Any proposed expansion of an approved facility, including any increase in Site Area or accessory equipment area, requires a new Special Use Permit rather than a minor modification. For the larger tiers, siting is tightly controlled: solar panels, arrays, and appurtenant structures must sit at least 1,000 feet from an existing residence, unless the resident agrees to a lesser distance and the County Commission approves it, at least 500 feet from any residentially zoned property line, at least 300 feet from an adjacent agricultural, commercial, or industrial property line, and at least 1,000 feet from a school or church property line. Battery storage components carry their own 1,000-foot residence/school/church setback and 500-foot residential-zoning setback under the same section.