Town of Chapel Hill - Land-Use Management Ordinances

October 30, 2023

Summary

In 2003, the Town of Chapel Hill adopted a land-use management ordinance that includes prohibitions against neighborhood or homeowners association covenants or other conditions of sale that restrict or prohibit the use, installation or maintenance of solar-collection devices. This ordinance was adopted prior to North Carolina's statewide solar access law. Chapel Hill's ordinance provides stronger protection for solar energy systems than the state law.

The Town of Chapel Hill also places restrictions on maximum building height depending on the zoning. For lots in new subdivisions, structures shall be placed and arranged so as not to adversely affect adjacent property. Including unreasonable loss of light and air or solar access.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector:	Local
Category:	Regulatory Policy
State:	North Carolina
Incentive Type:	Solar/Wind Access Policy
Web Site:
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:	Solar - Passive Solar Water Heat Solar Space Heat Solar Photovoltaics

Authorities

Name:

Land Use Ordinance, Article 3.8

Contact

Name:	John Richardson
Organization:	Town of Chapel Hill Sustainability and Resili
Address:	405 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Chapel Hill NC 27514-5705
Phone:	(919) 969-5075
Email:	jrichardson@townofchapelhill.org

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.