Franklin County, NC Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

UDC Section 4.5.13 makes it unlawful to construct, alter or establish any use without a Zoning Compliance Permit issued by the Administrator, but its exemption list carves out 'residential roof mounted solar panel system' by name alongside small accessory buildings, handicap ramps and portable carports; a homeowner installing rooftop panels does not need a zoning permit for that installation. Section 5.3.10 separately treats solar panels as an accessory use permitted in any zoning district and sorts them into three classifications: roof-mounted systems on a code-compliant structure, building-integrated systems, and ground-mounted systems or systems covering a permanent parking lot or hardscape area, the last of which is capped so its panel area cannot exceed the footprint of the principal structure or one acre, whichever governs.

Because only the roof-mounted category is exempted from the Zoning Compliance Permit in Section 4.5.13, a ground-mounted array or a large commercial system still needs that permit before installation, requiring a site plan showing property lines, structure locations and the proposed panel layout submitted to the Administrator. Any solar installation still must clear the state building and electrical codes enforced by the county's Buildings division under Chapter 8, since the zoning exemption only removes the land-use permit, not the construction permit. Installing an exempt rooftop system without meeting other UDO standards, or installing a ground-mounted or oversized array without the required Zoning Compliance Permit, exposes the owner to enforcement under Section 3.4.2: permit denial, a civil citation up to $500, and potential Class 3 misdemeanor liability.