Butte County, CA Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Section 24-157 classifies solar under four Utility land-use types tied to Table 24-157-1. Utilities, Minor covers Tier 1 systems, roof-mounted or ground-mounted up to one-half acre, and per the glossary definition these are permitted by right with a building permit in all zones. Utilities, Accessory covers Tier 2 systems, ground-mounted and limited to less than 15 percent of the parcel up to 5 acres, whichever is less, with less than 50 percent of power used off-site; these require an Administrative Permit in most zones. Utilities, Intermediate covers Tier 3 systems, limited to less than 30 percent of the parcel up to 20 acres with 50 percent or more of the power used on-site, and needs a Minor Use Permit in most zones.

Utilities, Major covers Tier 4 systems, ground-mounted for off-site power generation, and requires a Conditional Use Permit in most zones. Tiers 3 and 4 in Agriculture zones are further restricted to Grazing Land or Other Land under the state Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program and cannot sit on land under an active Williamson Act contract. Section 24-157(C) layers on engineering standards regardless of tier: photovoltaic systems must meet National Electrical Code, IEEE, and Public Utilities Commission safety and reliability standards, and ground-mounted systems must meet the applicable zone's setbacks.

Table 24-157-2 sets dimensional limits by parcel size: under 2 acres caps height at 8 feet with the zone's standard setback; 2 to 10 acres allows 10 feet with 10 additional feet of setback near residential zones; over 10 acres allows 15 feet with 15 additional feet of setback near residential zones. Roof-mounted panels are capped at six feet above the roof's maximum elevation unless a minor use permit approves up to twelve feet.