St. Louis County, MN Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- Ground-mount over 160 sq ft
- Standards applied
- Accessory structure setback/height/coverage
- Impervious surface
- Collector + foundation counted
- Shoreline setback waiver
- Director may waive if only suitable site
- Stormwater plan
- Required for permitted systems
Summary
A ground-mount solar array larger than 160 square feet in unincorporated St. Louis County needs a land use permit and must meet the same setback, height and impervious-surface limits as any accessory structure in its zone district, per Zoning Ordinance 62 Section 6.8.
B. Permit Required: Ground-mount solar energy systems occupying more than 160 square feet of ground area require a land use permit and are subject to the accessory structure standards for the district in which it is located, including setback, height, and impervious surface coverage limits. Setback requirements may be waived by the Director if it is verified that the proposed location is the only suitable area on the property for solar access. The following standards shall apply:
1. The collector surface of a ground-mount system and any foundation, compacted soil, or other component of the solar installation that rests on the ground shall be considered impervious surface.
2. If located at a reduced shoreline setback, ground-mounted systems shall be considered water oriented accessory structures, and therefore shall conform to the standards listed in Article VI, Section 6.10 D and shall require a land use permit.
3. The property owner shall develop a stormwater runoff plan to ensure snow and rain runoff does not discharge directly into lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands or adjacent properties.
Full Breakdown
B requires a land use permit for any ground-mount solar energy system covering more than 160 square feet of ground area. That permit subjects the system to the accessory structure standards of the district it sits in, including the district's setback, height and impervious surface coverage limits. D, which in turn requires its own land use permit; and the property owner must submit a stormwater runoff plan showing that snow and rain runoff from the installation will not discharge directly into a lake, river, stream, wetland, or adjacent property.
2. The Director can waive the district's standard setback for a permitted system if the property owner shows the proposed location is the only suitable spot on the lot for solar access, a waiver not available for any other accessory use in this article.
Violations & Fines
Installing a ground-mount solar system over 160 square feet without a land use permit, or without the required stormwater runoff plan, is a zoning violation. Under Section 8.2, the Director notifies the owner and sets a compliance deadline; failure to comply is a misdemeanor under Section 8.2.B, and the county may also seek injunctive relief to require removal or correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a ground-mount solar array need a permit in St. Louis County?
Can a solar array be placed closer to the shoreline than normal setbacks allow?
Does the panel footprint count against my lot's impervious surface limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
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