Colonie, NY Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Adopted March 23, 2017 by Local Law No. 2-2017 under Town Law §§ 261-263, § 190-51 splits solar installations into three tiers. Roof-mounted systems that use energy primarily onsite are permitted as an accessory use in all zoning districts when attached to any lawfully permitted residential building, cannot exceed the underlying district's height limit, must sit flush to the roof surface where possible, and are exempt from site plan review under subsection E(1)(e), the biggest practical break in the section: a homeowner installing rooftop panels for their own use does not need Planning Board sign-off.

Ground-mounted systems used primarily onsite are permitted as accessory structures only in designated zoning districts, must meet the underlying district's height and setback rules, and are capped at 50% lot coverage, with panel area counted toward that limit; like rooftop systems for onsite use, they are exempt from site plan review under E(2)(d). The largest tier, solar farms on lots of 20,000 square feet or more, requires a special use permit from the Planning Board under § 190-57 plus site plan review, and the application must include a professional engineer's layout, equipment specification sheets, an operation and maintenance plan, and a decommissioning plan backed by security funds equal to at least 125% of removal and restoration costs.

Solar farms are further limited to a 20-foot maximum panel height, minimum 50-foot setbacks (100 feet from residential districts), a 20,000-square-foot minimum lot size, 60% lot coverage, and a 20-foot vegetated buffer.