Medford, MA Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Medford's Article VI solar energy ordinance, added to Chapter 10 by Ordinance No. 848 on October 22, 2019, applies to four project types: residential developments of ten or more units, including conversions that create ten or more units; new construction or additions of 10,000 square feet or more of floor area; changes in practical use of an existing building of that size; and substantial rehabilitations, defined in § 10-105 as work costing more than 50 percent of a structure's assessed value, on buildings of the same size.

Under § 10-106, each covered project must install a solar energy system equal to at least 50 percent of total roof area, and any uncovered parking structure on the site must carry solar coverage on a minimum of 90 percent of its top level. Section 10-107 requires an initial solar assessment analyzing layout and annual production to be filed with the site plan review application under Chapter 94, Article VI, and a final solar installation plan must be reviewed and approved by the director of energy and environment before the building commissioner issues a building permit.

Section 10-108 lets the director waive or reduce the requirement where there is no usable solar-ready zone, where shading covers more than half of daylight hours annually, or where a conversion lacks the structural capacity to carry panels. Section 10-109 adds safety conditions: systems must preserve fire department roof access and egress pathways, and roof-mounted panels cannot be positioned so that shedding snow or ice falls into a porch, stairwell or pedestrian walkway.