West Hartford, CT Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)

Section 177-37.3 of the West Hartford Zoning Code, added in 2010 and amended in 2014 and 2016, sets the accessory-use standards a homeowner or installer must satisfy before a solar energy system goes on a roof, pole or the ground. Subsection C(1) makes closed loop geothermal systems and solar energy systems permitted accessory uses in every zone, unlike wind generators, open loop geothermal systems and outdoor wood-burning furnaces, which Section 177-37.3B bans townwide. Because the code treats a solar array as an accessory building, it must comply with the dimensional and siting standards for accessory buildings in Section 177-20E, and it is subject to additional solar-specific limits in Subsection C(3): a roof-mounted system generally may not rise above the building's maximum height or more than two feet above the roof, whichever is lower, though flat-roofed buildings in multifamily, commercial or industrial zones may go up to 10 feet with a setback, and a special use permit can authorize greater height.

Ground-mounted systems are capped at 10 feet and, in residential zones, may cover no more than 10% of the required rear yard. Every system, whatever its mounting, must be installed to manufacturer specifications, comply with the applicable utility interconnect agreement, and meet all applicable codes including the Connecticut Building Code, and transmission lines must run underground where feasible. A system that stops generating power for six consecutive months must be removed by the property owner.