General requirements

A. Solar energy systems shall be manufactured and designed to comply with applicable industry standards, including the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and other appropriate certifying organizations.
B. Solar energy systems connected directly to a distribution or a transmission system must submit an interconnect feasibility study at the preapplication stage; an impact study for preliminary plan submission; and an approved interconnection agreement with the interconnecting electric utility prior to final approval, where applicable.
C. No solar energy system shall be constructed, installed or modified without first obtaining all state and local approvals as well as all applicable permits and shall be subject to periodic inspections as deemed necessary by the building official and other Town officials.
D. Solar energy systems shall be constructed to minimize the use of herbicides.
E. Dimensional regulations for ground-mounted solar energy systems.
- (1) The maximum height of a ground-mounted solar energy system shall be 12 feet, with the exception of solar-covered parking structures, which shall have a maximum height of 18 feet from the ground. The height shall be measured from the ground level or the base of the system's pedestal to the highest point of the solar energy system, including the top of any support structure or panel. A maximum of six feet of fill shall be permitted, and a dimensional variance shall be required for projects proposing more than six feet of fill.
- (2) Setbacks.
  - (a) A solar energy system that is accessory to a principal structure may be located no closer than 1/2 of the setback that would otherwise apply or 20 feet from the front, side, or rear site lines, whichever is greater.
  - (b) A limited solar energy system shall have a setback requirement of 200 feet from adjacent residential zoning districts and from the front yard line. Where the subject property borders a nonresidential zoning district, the setback shall be 50 feet.
- (3) Lot coverage. A limited solar energy system shall cover no greater than 50% of a lot or contiguous lots in common ownership. The lot coverage calculation shall include inter-row and panel/collector spacing, meaning that the entire area of the installation shall be counted as lot coverage.
F. Panels for solar energy systems shall be recyclable unless the Planning Board approves the use of nonrecyclable panels due to extenuating circumstances.
G. Except for roof-mounted systems, solar energy systems shall not be permitted on any property that is encumbered by a conservation easement or on state-owned property.
H. A limited solar energy system that is located on more than one contiguous parcel of land shall be considered a single system and shall not exceed the land area/capacity threshold specified in § 400-204.