Queen Anne's County, MD Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Section 18:1-49.1, added 1-23-2018 by Ord. No. 17-17, treats small-scale solar arrays as an accessory use designed to offset part or all of the beneficiary's energy needs. On siting, the array must be on the beneficiary's premises or shared premises for the beneficiary's use and secondary to the use of the premises. A roof-mounted array cannot extend beyond the surface of the roof by more than necessary for proper operation or a maximum of 10 feet above a roof, and the total height including panels must comply with the chapter's height regulations. A ground-mounted array must meet all accessory setbacks on residential properties and sit only in side or rear yards there; on commercial or institutional property it must meet all required setbacks.

The submittal is the permit process the section prints. Subsection B requires certification of structural safety, evidence of compliance with fire safety codes for roof-mounted systems, accessible to emergency responders, and a safety mode system capable of shutdown via a clearly marked, readily accessible switch on residential applications. Subsection C requires a plan or survey with existing conditions and structures showing where the array goes, all setbacks with distances from property lines, glare oriented away from adjacent residences, and panels identified with an antireflective coating. Security lighting must comply with § 18:1-85, stormwater management regulations apply, and Critical Area projects must comply with lot coverage limits.

Environmental limits also apply: arrays must be screened from public view to the maximum extent practicable under a landscape plan with a maintenance agreement, and a landscape surety is held by the County for up to three years, with up to 50% released on inspection and the rest held three additional years. Arrays in special flood hazard areas identified in § 14:3-5 need Floodplain Administrator approval, no wetlands disturbance is permitted, and forest clearing must first comply with Chapter 18:2. The former Utility Scale Solar Array District, § 18:1-38.1, was repealed 8-26-2025 by Ord. No. 25-10.