03/25/2026
A Public Hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 4:40 pm
in the Police Jury Meeting Room to receive comments for the following:
Solar Farm Ordinance
Utility scale solar project facility development and design standards.
(a) Minimum lot size: A facility shall not be constructed on aggregate parcels of immovable property that are less than 20 acres in size.
(b) Height restrictions: All photovoltaic panels located in a facility with rotating panels shall be restricted to a maximum height of the torque tube to 16 feet measured from the ground to the top of the torque tube.
Facilities that have non-rotating (fixed) photovoltaic panels shall be limited to a maximum photovoltaic panel height of 18 feet measured from the ground to the top of the photovoltaic panel.
(c) Setbacks: All photovoltaic solar panels and support structures associated with a facility (excluding perimeter security fencing) shall be set back a minimum of 100 feet from public roads and neighboring immovable property boundaries, unless the adjoining immovable property boundary is wooded with no residence on the immovable property, in which case the setback shall be no less than 50 feet. Inverters, transformers, and mechanical equipment shall be set back a minimum of 100 feet from adjacent immovable property boundaries even if the adjacent boundary is wooded. If an adjoining section of immovable property has an existing occupied residence, business, or formal place of worship (e.g., church, synagogue, etc.) all photovoltaic solar panels and support structures, including inverters, transformers, and mechanical equipment, associated with a facility shall be set back a minimum of 500 feet.. These requirements are not applicable to adjoining landowners participating in the development of the facility.
(d) Fire protection: Areas of the facility susceptible to fire, including but not limited to transformers and other equipment that pose a risk of fire, shall be equipped with a fire monitoring system. The system shall notify off-site emergency personnel listed in the facility's emergency response plan that the fire monitoring system has been activated. The facility's emergency response plan will be coordinated with the chief of the servicing fire department or fire district and the building official in accordance with the National Electrical Code ("NEC") guidelines. Additionally, the facility’s operator shall coordinate and provide training on the emergency response plan to the servicing fire department or fire district prior to the initial, permanent operation of the facility. The facility shall comply with all applicable codes and regulatory standards for fire protection and shall be designed and constructed utilizing engineering controls to limit the spread of fire from any area susceptible to fire.
(e) Safety/Access: A minimum eight foot security fence (height and material to be established through the solar farm permit process) shall be placed around the entire perimeter of the facility to deter individuals from entering the premises and all electrical control equipment shall be equipped with a lock to prevent access. Lock boxes and keys to each shall be stored at locked entrances for emergency personnel access.
(f) Signage: One or more signs shall be affixed to the fence at the main entrance identifying the owner (and operator if there is a separate operator) of the facility and emergency contact information. Warning signage, including the identification of the owner or operator and emergency contact information, shall be placed every 300 feet around the security perimeter fence of the facility.
(g) Emergency services: For purposes of emergency services, the owner or operator of the facility shall provide a copy of the electrical schematic and site plan to the chief of the servicing fire department or fire district and the building official. The owner or operator shall develop an emergency response plan and provide it to the fire department or fire district chief and the building official. All means of shutting down the system shall be clearly marked on the plan. The system shall be equipped with a solar electric quick disconnect/rapid shutdown mechanism. The owner or operator shall identify a responsible person to the building official and the chief of the servicing fire department or fire district for public inquiries throughout the life of the facility.
(h) Noise: The facility shall not exceed 50-75 dBA as measured at the perimeter of the facility.
(i) Maintenance: The owner or operator of the facility shall maintain the facility in good condition. Maintenance shall include, without limitation, painting, structural repairs, vegetation control and integrity of security equipment. The owner or operator shall also be responsible for the cost of maintaining the non-public access road(s) associated with the facility. If soil sterilant is to be used for vegetation maintenance, it shall not exceed a three-year half life. Additionally, semi-annual inspections by either the civil works director or building official may be requested but shall be granted to ensure compliance of facility maintenance and other requirements of this ordinance.
(j) Landscaping: A facility shall install perimeter landscaping that creates an opaque vegetative/foliage "hedge" along each facility property boundary that is adjacent to public roads, highways, and existing occupied residences within 500 feet of the facility's property boundary. The vegetative perimeter shall consist of trees, foliage, bamboo, etc., such that the facility equipment is concealed from view from the facility boundaries. Landscaping shall be maintained and in good condition for the life of the facility. To maintain vegetation in good condition, all unhealthy (60 percent dead or greater) and dead material shall be replaced by the facility's owner or operator within one year, or the next appropriate planting period, whichever occurs first. Any preexisting natural barrier that creates such conditions shall be deemed sufficient. Roads internal to the facility shall not be subject to vegetative requirements.
(k) Lighting: All lighting must be shielded from nonparticipating landowners' adjoining immovable property and light poles are restricted to a maximum height of 18 feet near the perimeter of the property.
(l) Transportation: Access drives, driveways, and parking lots must be covered by sufficient limestone, gravel, or similar aggregate to prevent pitting.
(m) Local, state and federal permits and standards: A facility shall be required to obtain all applicable permits from the U.S. Government, State of Louisiana, and Avoyelles Parish prior to the start of construction. A facility shall comply with all applicable standards, requirements and/or guidelines set by the United States Government, including, but not limited to, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. A solar farm shall comply with all applicable standards, requirements and/or guidelines set by the State of Louisiana, including the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. At the time of installation, solar panels must meet the then current ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) standards and/or guidelines, including, but not limited to, applicable wind loads based on the suggested area of installation.
(n) Electrical interconnections: Electrical interconnection or distribution lines shall comply with all applicable codes, standards, and requirements for commercial and industrial large-scale utilities.
(o) Solar farm permit application: The following information shall be provided to the planning commission in a solar farm permit application for each proposed facility. The solar farm permit application must sufficiently set forth all information required to demonstrate that the facility will comply with the requirements of this chapter.
(1) Facility description and rationale: Identify the type, size, rated power output, performance, safety, and noise characteristics of the proposed system. Identify build out time frame, project life, development phases, likely markets for the generated energy and possible future expansions. Identify the name of the facility, name(s), and addresses of the facility owner and/or operator, name(s) of the property owner(s) and the engineers, surveyors, and contractors to be engaged in the design and construction of the facility. The final list of engineers, surveyors, and contractors may be provided prior to the issuance of the building permit, if not available at the time of the develop permit/development approval. Preference for local professionals/labor is encouraged. Prior to beginning construction, the facility owner shall submit the expected make and model number of the equipment being installed.
(2) Permits: The facility owner or operator shall provide a copy of all applicable state and federal registrations and permits that have been acknowledged or issued at the time of the solar farm permit application submission and shall supplement this information as applicable state and federal registrations and permits are acknowledged or issued after the solar farm permit application is submitted. The solar farm shall not begin delivering power in commercial quantities to the electrical grid until all required permits are provided to the planning commission for review.
During construction, limited operational testing is allowed prior to receipt of all required permits.
(3) Lease: If the immovable property site of the facility is leased, the facility owner or operator shall submit a copy of the recorded notice of lease, which shall contain the following: (a) a declaration that the property is leased and the names and addresses of the lessor and lessee; (b) an immovable property description of the leased property and size of leased property; (c) the date of the lease, its term and the provisions of any extensions and renewals of the term provided for in the lease; (d) a reference to the existence of an option, right of first refusal, or other agreement of the lessor to transfer all or any part of the leased premises; (e) if a sublease, the notice shall contain reference to the recordation information of the primary lease or notice of lease that is subleased; and (f) the notice of lease must be signed by the lessor and lessee of the lease or sublease. The facility owner or operator shall file the notice of lease in the parish's conveyance records and shall provide a copy of the recorded notice of lease to the planning commission.
(4) Economic impact: The facility owner or operator shall submit a report detailing the estimated financial economic impact to the parish over the entire life of the facility. The report shall be prepared by a qualified third party. The draft report shall be provided to the planning commission for review prior to finalization of the solar farm permit, and the planning commission may request additional, reasonable information that it deems necessary for its review.
The planning commission may retain a consultant to review the report, with the applicant to bear the cost of the police jury's retaining of the expert.
(5) Boundaries: Identify all immovable property boundaries and actual dimensions upon which the solar farm will be located, including total acreage, with bearings and distances. Identify the names and addresses of adjoining immovable property owners and their status as participating or nonparticipating in the development of the facility.
(6) Site plan: Present a site plan showing streets, circulation, driveways, service buildings, easements, arrangements and locations of solar panels, and all systems and equipment on the immovable property, and designating all buildable areas of the total site. Include the location of all facility signage, including warning signage.
(7) Analysis of onsite traffic: Provide an estimate of the number of temporary construction jobs and the number of permanent jobs, including job titles, associated with the facility.
(8) Visual impacts: Demonstrate the visual impact of the proposed solar farm using photos or renditions of the facility with consideration given to vegetative plantings and setback requirements. Include the facility's landscaping plan demonstrating compliance with this chapter.
(9) Wildlife: Submit a report summarizing the potential effects of the facility on wildlife and endangered species in the area. The report must be prepared by a qualified third party with expertise in biology, ecology, wildlife management and/or environmental studies.
(10) Environmental and health safety standards: All applicable environmental, health, and safety regulations and standards shall be complied with during construction and operation of the facility in order to protect the public health and the environment. For any hazardous materials brought on site, a safety data sheet ("SDS") shall be provided to the building official at the start of construction. The SDS must include the following information: the properties of the material, the physical, health and environmental hazards of the material; protective measures; and safety precautions for handling, storing, and transporting the material. No materials that are an environmental, health or safety hazard shall be used without prior written notice and approval of the planning commission.
(11) Elevation: Provide an immovable property elevation profile that includes the immovable property contours and drainage.
(12) Drainage: Provide a drainage plan that ensures that watershed, runoff and/or drainage from the facility area flows to the appropriate ditches/channels, as identified by the civil works director, so as to be disbursed appropriately. The drainage plan shall demonstrate that no immovable property within a mile radius of the facility will experience measurably adverse impacts from watershed, runoff and/or drainage from the facility site. The drainage plan shall be reviewed by the civil works director and additional requirements regarding drainage may be imposed on the facility. The application must also indicate if a storm water permit from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for construction, operation, or both is required. The planning commission or civil works director may require the submission of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan following the development permit/approval by the police jury but prior to building permit issuance.
(13) Solid and hazardous waste: Identify solid waste or hazardous waste that will be generated by the facility. The application shall include a plan for spill prevention, clean-up and disposal of fuels, oils, and hazardous wastes, as well as collection and storage methods for solid waste generated by the facility.
(14) Wind: Provide an analysis of the solar equipment's ability to withstand maximum sustained winds (and temporary maximum gusts) that could be reasonably expected in the vicinity of the facility.
(15) Lighting: Provide lighting plans showing all lighting within and on the perimeter of the facility prior to issuance of building permit.
(16) Transportation plan: Provide an access plan for both the construction and operation phases of the facility. The plan must show proposed facility service road ingress and egress access onto primary and secondary routes and the layout of the facility service road system.
(17) Vegetative maintenance plan: Submit a plan for the upkeep and maintenance of the vegetation. Emphasis should be placed on maintaining the required vegetation.
(18) Public safety: Submit a plan outlining routine and emergency shutdown procedures. Include a plan of how the facility will comply with applicable fire protection regulatory requirements, including the International Fire Code and NFPA. Submit a copy of the emergency response plan to the fire department or fire district chief and the building official. Identify potential hazards to adjacent immovable properties, public roadways and to the community in general related to operation and/or shutdown of the facility is in operation.
(19) Sound limitations: Identify anticipated noise levels at the fence line of the facility when construction is complete and when the facility is in operation.
(20) Aviation analysis: If within two (2) miles of an airport, submit an aviation glare analysis developed by a qualified third-party contractor showing any potential aviation glare hazards (AGH) that would arise from the facility and its effect on local flightpaths.
(21) Life of the facility and final reclamation: Submit a decommissioning and final immovable property reclamation plan ("decommissioning plan") after anticipated useful life or abandonment or termination of the facility, including evidence of an agreement with the immovable property owner that ensures proper final removal of power generating equipment no later than 12 months after decommissioning. The decommissioning plan shall include the following: (a) the anticipated life of the facility, (b) the estimated decommissioning cost in current dollars, (c) how said estimate was determined, including how credit for salvage value was calculated, (d) the manner in which the facility will be decommissioned, and (e) an acceptable performance guarantee to cover the cost of decommissioning in accordance with the requirements of the State of Louisiana. The plan must be prepared by a professional engineer licensed in Louisiana.
(p) Additional requirements: All shall comply with the following requirements.
(1) Public Involvement: Prior to the police jury meeting set to consider the development, a permit applicant must hold a public meeting to disseminate information about the facility. This public meeting must be held at least 21 days prior to the police jury meeting, and the meeting location shall be set in coordination with the police jury president.
(2) Construction: The installation of equipment shall be performed in accordance with generally accepted industry standards for such installation and in accordance with the manufacturer's standards and specifications, and in compliance with the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code.
(3) Licensed contractor: The contractor(s) hired to construct, install, service, monitor and/or maintain the facility and any of the equipment therein, shall be duly licensed by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for contractors in the classification of solar energy equipment as required by R.S. 37:2156.3 and LAC46: XXIX, Chapters 1-7 at Section 311, as amended.
(4) Build completion: Thirty (30) days after commercial operation begins, a certified as-built plan stamped by a professional engineer licensed in Louisiana shall be submitted to the planning commission for review, which shall clearly show the as-built facility, including any and all as-built construction, concealed or buried conduit, utilities, etc. The planning commission must approve the as-built plan prior to the building official's final inspection of the facility. Once approved, the owner or operator shall file the as-built plan in the Avoyelles Parish mortgage records and the building official shall maintain a copy of the as-built plan on file for three years after the facility has completed the decommissioning process.
(5) Proof of adherence to noise limitations: Proof of adherence to noise limitations by the facility shall be submitted to the planning commission within three months following the commencement of operation of the facility. This proof shall be based upon actual measurement of the noise level at the property line of each neighboring property during facility operation.
(7) Delayed or incomplete construction: A solar farm permit will expire three years from date of issuance if construction of the facility has not commenced. A solar farm permit shall expire four years from date of issuance if the construction of the facility has not reached substantial completion and/or final acceptance, both of which must be determined and certified by an engineer licensed in Louisiana. A one-time, 12-month extension may be granted prior to expiration by vote of the police jury. After the expiration of a solar farm permit, the applicant may reapply.
(8) Experts and consultants: Should the planning commission determine that review of any element of the application, including but not limited to the decommissioning plan, requires assistance from outside experts, including but not limited to engineers, accountants, or other technical consultants, the applicant shall bear the reasonable cost of the police jury's retaining of the expert.
Where provisions herein require submittal of a report or other information prepared by or work performed by a third-party contractor, engineer, or other consultant, the planning commission has the authority to hire consultants to review the submitted report, information, or work performed by third-party contractor, engineer, or other consultant, with the cost of the police jury retaining such consultants to be borne by the applicant, owner, or operator.
(9) Performance guarantee for decommissioning: After a solar farm permit is issued, as a precondition to commencing construction, the facility owner or operator shall submit to the police jury a performance guarantee in the form of a performance bond, irrevocable letter of credit, cash escrow held by a federally insured financial institution, or, at the option of the police jury, a bond in a rating specified by the police jury from a third party independent of the facility owner or operator, in the amount of the estimated decommissioning cost of the facility based on the decommissioning plan. Credit shall be given for salvage value of the equipment and such credit may be subtracted from the estimated decommissioning cost but under no circumstances may the performance guarantee be less than $500,000.00 even if the salvage value of the equipment exceeds the estimated decommissioning cost. If providing a performance bond, it shall be issued by a solvent, legal surety that is licensed to do business in the State of Louisiana, subject to the approval of the police jury. Any financial institution issuing an irrevocable letter of credit or holding a cash escrow shall be subject to the approval of the police jury.
For the performance guarantee, whether utilizing a bond, letter of credit, or cash escrow, the immovable property owner(s) shall be listed as the primary beneficiary of the performance guarantee, with the police jury listed as the secondary beneficiary. The performance guarantee shall provide that it cannot be amended, cancelled, or revoked without the prior written consent of all beneficiaries thereto, and the release of funds must have prior written consent of the secondary beneficiary. The amount of the estimated decommissioning cost and the performance guarantee shall be submitted by the facility owner or operator to the police jury for review at least every two years and shall be increased as needed in accordance with the consumer price index for inflation and any reduction in value of the credit given for estimated salvage value. The performance guarantee shall be released at such time that it or its assignees remove the system(s) and associated abandoned structures of the facility and such completed removal is found to be satisfactory by the police jury.
(10) Final inspection and permission to operate: Prior to operation of the facility, the owner and/or operator shall submit a request to the building official for final inspection of the facility.
The building official shall perform both a file review and a physical inspection of the facility in conducting the final inspection. The review shall be performed to confirm that applicable requirements of the ordinance have been met and that the approved as-built plan reflects the facility design as constructed. The building official shall submit the results of his final inspection to the owner/operator.
If the building official determines that the facility has passed the final inspection and all applicable fees have been remitted, he shall notify the facility owner or operator that operation of the facility may commence by issuance of a written permission to operate. The issued permission to operate may not be transferred by the facility owner or operator without the approval of the police jury.
If the building official determines that the facility does not pass the final inspection, he will notify the facility owner or operator in writing with a list of deficiencies that must be corrected.
Appeals.
Upon receipt from the planning commission of recommended approval or denial of a solar farm permit, receipt from the building official of recommended approval of permission to operate denial of a conditional use following recommended approval by the planning commission of a solar farm permit, the police jury shall hold a hearing and may, by majority vote of a quorum, then present and voting, (1) affirm or reverse the recommended approval of the solar farm permit or permission to operate, (2) affirm or reverse the recommended denial of the solar farm permit, (3) affirm or reverse the appeal of the denial of a conditional (or planning approval) use, or (4) remand to the planning commission (solar farm permit), building official (permission to operate). The police jury's decision in each instance is final (subject to later rehearing following remand), but it may be appealed by the applicant to the district court within thirty (30) days from receipt of the mailing by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the police jury's decision to the applicable facility applicant, owner, or operator.
Inspections.
Upon 72-hours prior notification, with the exception of emergency situations as determined at the discretion of the permit office, authorized representatives of the police jury may enter upon the premises and conduct an inspection of the solar farm at any time, whether during construction, operation, or decommissioning, to verify compliance with any and all applicable requirements, standards, and/or guidelines.
Deviations from application.
The applicant, owner, or operator of the solar farm must immediately notify, update and/or supplement its solar farm permit application with the permit office in the event of any material changes or deviations from the information represented in its original application. The building official will determine whether the changes and/or deviations result in noncompliance with this article and require the parish to reconsider the status of the permit.
Decommissioning, removal, and abandonment.
(a) Any solar farm that has reached the end of its useful life, ceases to generate power as set forth in section 122-177(c) below, or has been abandoned shall be removed in accordance with the decommissioning plan. The removal and decommissioning activities shall commence within 90 days of termination of site use, abandonment, or revocation of the solar farm permit. The solar farm owner or operator shall physically remove the installation no more than 12 months after the date of discontinued operations. The owner or operator shall notify the police jury by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the proposed date of the discontinued operations and provide detailed plans for removal.
(b) Decommissioning shall consist of:
(1) Physical removal of all solar energy systems, structures, equipment, security barriers and transmission lines from the site including cabling up to a depth of three feet;
(2) Disposal of all solid and hazardous waste in accordance with local, state, and federal waste disposal regulations;
(3) Stabilize or revegetate the solar farm site as necessary to minimize erosion. The contour of the immovable property shall be returned to what it was at the inception of the project, or as similar as reasonably possible, except that this requirement shall not apply where the immovable property owner(s) consents to the altered contour of the immovable property remaining and permanent drainage structures are in place to ensure that no adjoining immovable property has adverse effects from watershed, runoff and/or drainage from the immovable property. The police jury may allow the owner or operator to leave landscaping or designated below-grade foundations to minimize erosion and disruptions to vegetation. The immovable property owner(s) and/or the police jury may require that roads and/or buildings be retained; and
(4) Remediation of any environmental hazards remaining on the site, as determined by the EPA, LDEQ, or the police jury.
(c) Absent a written notice of a proposed date of decommissioning or written notice of a force majeure, the solar farm shall be considered abandoned when it fails to generate electricity for more than one year after the commercial operations commencement date, without having first obtained the written consent of the police jury. Determination of abandonment shall be made by the police jury.
(d) If the owner or operator of the solar farm fails to remove the installation in accordance with the requirements of this section within 12 months of abandonment or the proposed date of decommissioning, the parish may utilize the performance guarantee and any and all legal or available means necessary to cause the abandoned, hazardous, or decommissioned solar farm to be removed and to complete all of the decommissioning steps under this section.
Industrial tax exemption program (ITEP).
The police jury reserves the right to accept, reject, or request modification of the Louisiana Industrial Ad Valorem Tax Program, which currently provides an 80 percent property tax abatement for an initial five years with the option of renewal but does not limit the use of a PILOT.
Transfer and/or sale of solar farm.
The police jury shall be notified within 30 days of any anticipated transfer of ownership, operation and/or sale of the solar farm, the solar farm permit, or the permission to operate. The police jury must approve of any such transfer. The new owners or operators of the solar farm shall be held to the same standards, requirements, and permit conditions as the original solar farm owner or operator.
Conflict of laws.
Whenever the requirements of this article conflict with each other or with the requirements of any other applicable statute, regulation, or law, including, without limitation, any regulations that may be promulgated by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, the more restrictive regulation shall apply. In the event the requirements of this article conflict with any ordinance previously enacted by the parish, the provisions of this article shall apply.
