Leominster, MA Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Leominster's solar ordinance, Sec. b states that no solar energy system may be erected, constructed, installed, or modified without first obtaining a building permit. For ground-mounted systems, that is only the first step. c adds that, except where allowed by right or otherwise excluded by this ordinance based on the system size, no ground-mounted solar energy system may be erected, constructed, installed, or modified without first undergoing site plan approval by the planning board. c confirms that all other ground-mounted solar energy systems are allowed by site plan approval and special permit from the planning board, per the use chart, meaning most ground-mounted arrays beyond the small-system exemption face both a site plan review and a special permit.

Site plan applicants must clear a pre-application conference with planning staff and submit a package that includes a stormwater management plan meeting Massachusetts Stormwater Performance Standards, a visual and habitat mitigation plan, a public outreach plan, a view-shed analysis, photographs from at least four vantage points, and engineer-stamped site plans showing panel arrays, access roads, utility connections and resource-area delineations. b allows them in all districts with site plan approval alone, no special permit. d.