Surry County, NC Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Surry County's Table of Permitted Uses lists solar electric generation under NAICS 221114: systems under 6,000 square feet as an accessory use are permitted by right (P) in nearly every zoning district, while systems over 6,000 square feet require a special use permit (S) from the Board of Adjustment in several districts. Either way, § 154.008(C)(62) governs the physical build-out. The minimum lot size for a Level 2 solar energy system is five acres. Structures and fixed equipment must be set back at least 50 feet from all property lines and public rights-of-way, though the Planning Board can require a larger setback case by case.

Mounted solar collection structures cannot exceed 25 feet in height (utility poles and antennas built for the project are excluded), and the Planning Board may lower that cap based on site conditions. Every electric solar collection component must carry a UL listing, and the whole system must meet the state building code and National Electric Code and be inspected by a county building inspector before it can operate. If the system sits within one mile of an airport, the installer must file FAA Form 7460-1 with the FAA's regional office in Memphis, Tennessee, and placement is barred outright in historical districts such as the Village of Rockford. Screening from adjacent properties and road rights-of-way is also required, per § 154.015, with the Planning Board able to demand more extensive buffering.