Westminster, CO Solar Energy: Panel Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Ground-mounted panel area cap
- 400 sq ft per residential structure
- Max height
- 10 ft residential, 15 ft nonresidential
- Ground system placement
- Side and rear yards only
- Interior setback
- 10 feet from side/rear lines
- Roof panel area cap
- Cannot exceed total roof area
- Glare rule
- Cannot affect neighbors or the airport
Summary
Westminster treats solar panels as an accessory use under Section 11-4-6(Q.5). Ground-mounted residential systems are capped at 400 square feet and 10 feet tall, must sit in side or rear yards, and both ground- and roof-mounted systems can't create glare that bothers neighbors or Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport operations.
(Q.5)Solar Energy Systems: Solar energy systems may be permitted as an accessory use subject to the following:(1)Ground mounted (freestanding) solar energy systems:(a)Where located within a residential zoning district, including residential locations within a PUD or SPD, the area of solar panels shall not exceed 400 square feet per residential structure;(b)Maximum height shall be ten feet in a residential zoning district or 15 feet in height in a nonresidential district, measured from the grade at the base of the pole to the highest edge of the system;(c)Placement shall be limited to side and rear yard areas;...(2)Building mounted solar energy systems:(a)Building mounted solar energy systems shall be permitted in all zoning districts on any principal or accessory structure;(b)The total area of solar panels shall not exceed the total area of roof surface of the structure to which the system is attached;(c)Panels shall be flush mounted within six inches of the roof surface;(d)Systems shall not extend beyond the highest peak of a pitched roof.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12).
Full Breakdown
5) permits solar energy systems as an accessory use and sets separate rules for ground-mounted and building-mounted installations. Ground-mounted, or freestanding, systems in a residential zoning district, including residential areas of a PUD or SPD, are capped at 400 square feet of panel area per residential structure under (1)(a), with a maximum height of 10 feet in residential districts or 15 feet in nonresidential districts, measured from the grade at the base of the pole to the system's highest edge, under (1)(b). Placement is restricted to side and rear yards under (1)(c), and every part of the freestanding system has to sit at least 10 feet back from interior side and rear property lines and stay out of any easement under (1)(d).
Both ground-mounted and building-mounted systems share an anti-glare rule: the installation's location and configuration can't create glare that interferes with a neighboring property's use and enjoyment or with Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport operations. Building-mounted systems get more latitude: they're permitted on any principal or accessory structure in every zoning district under (2)(a), and the total panel area can't exceed the structure's total roof surface area under (2)(b). Panels must be flush-mounted within six inches of the roof surface under (2)(c) and can't extend past the highest peak of a pitched roof under (2)(d).
On buildings that aren't single-family homes, panels may project up to five feet from a facade or roof edge, or into an interior side or rear setback, but never closer than five feet to that property line, under (2)(e). Roof installations also have to preserve emergency access for fire, police, and EMS crews and maintenance access to HVAC, smoke ventilation, and other roof systems under (2)(f). Because solar panels are an accessory use, they piggyback on the principal building's zoning approval, though the physical installation still needs the electrical and structural permits required by Chapter 9 of the Building Code.
Violations & Fines
A ground-mounted system that exceeds the 400-square-foot cap, sits outside the side or rear yard, or crowds the 10-foot interior setback fails to qualify as a permitted accessory use under Section 11-4-6(Q.5)(1) and can be ordered brought into compliance or removed. A roof-mounted system that blocks the emergency access clearance required for fire, police, or EMS crews, or that creates glare affecting a neighbor or Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport operations, likewise violates subsection (Q.5) regardless of how it was installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can a ground-mounted solar array be on my Westminster property?
Can I put ground-mounted solar panels in my front yard?
Are there limits on roof-mounted solar panels?
Why does Westminster's solar code mention an airport?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
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