Glenn County, CA Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Small direct-use system
- Site Plan Review, Chapter 15.13
- Secondary/Primary use system
- Conditional use permit, Ch. 15.220
- Setback near a residence
- 60 feet for solar panels
- Enclosed building setback
- 150 feet
- Farmland mitigation ratio
- 1:1 replacement land
- Governing section
- Glenn County Code § 15.86.030
Summary
Unincorporated Glenn County sorts solar permits by how the system is used: small on-site direct-use panels may only need a Site Plan review, while systems built mainly to sell power off-site need a conditional use permit. Ground-mounted panels near a neighbor's home need a 60-foot setback.
Direct Use power generation facilities may require the application for a Site Plan review depending on the requirements of the individual zoning district. Also, ground mounted facilities are subject to the lot coverage standards of each zoning district which may not allow for ½ an acre of lot coverage. Facilities that generate noise, dust, heat, or glare may not meet established performance standards which will require an applicant to secure a conditional use permit. ... Secondary Use and Primary Use power generation facilities shall require an applicant to first secure a conditional use permit in accordance with Chapter 15.220 and the applicable zoning district. ... A setback of at least 60 feet shall be required for solar panels, 150 feet for enclosed buildings, and 200 feet for wind turbines.
Full Breakdown
030 sets permitting for power generation facilities, including solar, by use category. 13 depending on the zoning district, though ground-mounted arrays are still capped by each district's lot coverage standard, which can be less than the half acre otherwise allowed. If the installation generates noise, dust, heat or glare that fails the county's performance standards, the applicant must instead secure a conditional use permit. 220 regardless of zoning district. Projects on Agriculture-zoned or Williamson Act contracted land face extra conditions: prime farmland mapped under the state Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program must be avoided, or mitigated 1:1 with replacement farmland of equal or greater potential, and a Secondary Use project must show the power generation is subordinate to the site's ongoing agricultural use.
Where a power generation facility sits near a residence on an adjoining lot, the county requires either a 60-foot setback for solar panels (150 feet for enclosed buildings, 200 feet for wind turbines) or ground-level visual screening using native, drought-resistant vegetation.
Violations & Fines
Installing a Secondary or Primary Use solar array without the Chapter 15.220 conditional use permit, or a ground-mounted system that exceeds the applicable zoning district's lot coverage limit, violates Section 15.86.030. Under Glenn County Code Section 1.12.010, a code violation is an infraction on the first two occurrences and a misdemeanor on the third within twelve months, punishable under Section 1.13.010 by up to $5,000, up to one year in county jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a conditional use permit for rooftop solar panels on my house in Glenn County?
How far must a ground-mounted solar array be from my neighbor's house?
Can I put a solar farm on prime farmland in Glenn County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glenn County
California rules heatmap·Compare Glenn County to another location·View the California solar energy overview
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