Hanover County, VA Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

6 governs accessory solar energy facilities, meaning panels serving the property they sit on rather than a utility-scale principal facility. For roof-mounted systems, panels cannot extend more than twelve inches above the roof surface at maximum tilt, and cannot extend more than twelve inches beyond the outside wall of the building; solar shingles count as the roof itself and are exempt from this measurement. Exceeding either twelve-inch limit requires a special exception from the Board of Supervisors, and in no case can panel height exceed the maximum building height allowed in the applicable zoning district.

Ground-mounted accessory systems face a flat twelve-foot height cap for all equipment, including the panels, measured above finished grade. Ground-mounted panels and equipment must also meet the building setback requirements that apply to the underlying zoning district for principal structures, and the installation must include screening, specifically a staggered double row of evergreen trees planted eight feet on center, installed so it blocks the view of the panels and equipment from public and private roadways and adjoining properties. 7's standards for supplementary facilities capped at two megawatts.

The Planning Department's Zoning Administrator reviews accessory solar installations for compliance, and the standards were adopted by Ord. No. 23-14, Section 22, effective October 25, 2023.