Table of Contents

Solar Energy

The city's zoning ordinance permits solar collection systems as accessory uses in all districts subject to standards, including location, lot coverage, and height restrictions (Article 1303 §305.54).

It also permits Urban Solar Farms in manufacturing and industrial districts and allows them as conditional uses in waterfront industrial district subject to standards, including fencing, signage, setback requirements. The zoning ordinance lists permit requirements and provides for decommissioning (Article 1303 §305.55).

Wind Energy

The city’s zoning ordinance defines and regulates small and large wind energy systems.

It permits small and large wind energy systems as accessory uses with a discretionary use permit in most zoning districts, subject to use-specific standards (Article 1303 §305.53). It permits wind energy systems as primary uses in industrial districts, subject to use-specific standards (Article 1303 §305.52). The standards for all wind energy systems address height, setbacks, compliance with applicable standards, utility notification, rotor controls, turbine finish, signs, undergrounding lines, guy wires, lighting, fencing, contact information, maintenance, insurance, and application requirements.

The zoning ordinance defines “commercial/industrial scale wind energy systems,” “small wind energy systems,” and “wind energy conversion system” (Article 1303 §600).