Solar Energy in Wisconsin (2026)
25 rules on the books across Wisconsin, 22 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Panel Permits
Permits required for installing rooftop or ground-mounted solar panels, including electrical inspections and interconnection approvals.
Wisconsin: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsWisconsin Statute 66.0401 broadly preempts municipalities and counties from restricting solar and wind energy systems…
Read full rule →Milton
Significant RestrictionsThe City of Milton requires a building permit and treats every large solar energy system as a conditional use, while a…
Read full rule →Waukesha County
Significant RestrictionsA solar energy system in unincorporated Waukesha County that cannot meet the county's normal accessory-structure…
Read full rule →Appleton
Some RestrictionsAppleton requires an electrical permit before any solar photovoltaic installation begins, issued by the Inspection…
Read full rule →Dane County
Some RestrictionsDane County lets landowners put up free-standing solar collectors as accessory structures under s. 10.102(10)(i), but…
Read full rule →Fitchburg
Some RestrictionsFitchburg, Wisconsin requires a building permit for every solar energy collection system under City Code § 22-8. Roof…
Read full rule →Green Bay
Some RestrictionsInstalling a ground-mounted or roof-mounted solar energy system in Green Bay requires a building permit and a site plan…
Read full rule →Little Chute
Some RestrictionsLittle Chute has no separate solar-panel permit; collectors on the principal building are regulated as yard…
Read full rule →Marathon County
Some RestrictionsSolar energy systems are allowed by right in every Marathon County zoning district but need a zoning permit and a…
Read full rule →Neenah
Some RestrictionsSolar panels are allowed as an accessory use in Neenah's residential districts, but ground-mounted systems face height…
Read full rule →New Berlin
Some RestrictionsNew Berlin allows solar energy conversion systems as an accessory use in every zoning district under City Code § 275-42…
Read full rule →Outagamie County
Some RestrictionsOutagamie County requires a site plan and elevation drawing for accessory-scale solar systems, caps ground-mounted…
Read full rule →Walworth County
Some RestrictionsA zoning permit is required to install a solar energy system in unincorporated Walworth County under Walworth County…
Read full rule →Waukesha
Some RestrictionsWaukesha treats roof-mounted solar collectors as a permitted accessory use in every residential and business district…
Read full rule →Wausau
Some RestrictionsAny large solar energy system in Wausau, one built to sell power off-site, needs a building permit before installation…
Read full rule →Wauwatosa
Some RestrictionsWauwatosa allows accessory solar energy systems in every zoning district under Wauwatosa Municipal Code § 24.10.030…
Read full rule →Winnebago County
Some RestrictionsWinnebago County requires building-mounted solar panels to sit flush with the roof or wall, meet the district's height…
Read full rule →De Pere
Light RestrictionsDe Pere allows accessory solar energy systems on any principal or accessory structure under Section 14-78(14) of the…
Read full rule →Middleton
Light RestrictionsRooftop, building-mounted and freestanding solar systems are permitted accessory uses by right in every City of…
Read full rule →Madison
Few RestrictionsMadison permits rooftop and ground-mount solar by right under MGO 28.151. Building and electrical permits required…
Read full rule →Milwaukee
Few RestrictionsMilwaukee encourages solar energy adoption through its Milwaukee Shines program. Building permits are required for…
Read full rule →Sun Prairie
Few RestrictionsSolar panels are permitted by right in every zoning district in the City of Sun Prairie. Section 17.16.140(31)-(32)…
Read full rule →West Allis
Few RestrictionsWest Allis classifies solar energy systems as a permitted accessory use in every zoning district, so homeowners and…
Read full rule →HOA Restrictions
State and local laws that limit what HOAs can restrict when it comes to solar panel installation, placement, and appearance.
Wisconsin: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsWisconsin does not merely limit what a homeowners' association may say about solar. Wis. Stat. § 236.292(2) declares…
Read full rule →Milwaukee
Few RestrictionsWisconsin Statute 66.0401 strongly protects solar energy rights and limits the ability of HOAs and local governments to…
Read full rule →