Screen sites before you call a landowner
Compare county rules
See whether each county allows solar by right, with a special use permit or not at all, with its setbacks and minimum lot size.
Follow county decisions
See the special use permits and rezonings each county has approved or denied, with their conditions.
Reach landowners
Get owners of record and mailing addresses for the parcels on your list.
Example questions
Which parcels over 50 acres are within 10 km of my interconnection point?
Search around a point by acreage and land use. Each parcel comes with its boundary, owner and assessed value.
Within 10 km50+ acresAgriculturalsorted by acreageExample
| Parcel | Owner | Acres | Land use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0611-73-2214 | Example Family Farms LLC | 212.4 | Agricultural |
| 0623-08-9940 | R. and L. Example | 148.0 | Timber |
| 0598-41-1107 | Example Land Co | 96.7 | Agricultural |
Is solar allowed on this parcel, and what are the setbacks?
The zoning district at the parcel, whether it allows solar, and the setbacks, buffers and lot size the ordinance requires, each with its section.
Parcel 0611-73-2214RA-30Harnett County, NCExample
| Rule | Value | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Utility-scale solar | Special use permit | § 4.3 |
| Setback from dwellings | 500 ft | § 8.12.4 |
| Minimum lot size | 10 acres | § 8.12.2 |
| Vegetative buffer | 50 ft | § 8.12.6 |
What solar projects has this county approved or denied?
Search the county’s special use and rezoning cases for solar, with the decision and every condition of approval.
Harnett County, NCsolar3 casesExample
| Case | Request | Outcome | Decided |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUP-25-011 | Solar farm, 35 MW | Approved | 2025-11-03 |
| SUP-24-019 | Solar farm, 80 MW | Approved | 2024-06-17 |
| SUP-23-007 | Solar farm, 20 MW | Denied | 2023-03-20 |
Who owns these parcels, and where do I send a letter?
Owners of record and their mailing addresses for the parcels on a list.
Site list4 parcelssaved listExample
| Owner | Mailing address | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Example Family Farms LLC | 1402 Example Rd, Lillington NC | 212.4 |
| R. and L. Example | 88 Example Ln, Angier NC | 148.0 |
| Example Land Co | PO Box 410, Dunn NC | 96.7 |
Data for solar development
- Parcels
- Acreage, land use, owners of record, mailing address, assessed value, last sale, boundary
- Zoning
- Whether solar is permitted, conditional or prohibited in each district, with setbacks, buffers, height and minimum lot size
- Zoning decisions
- Special use permits, rezonings and variances, with outcomes and conditions such as buffers and decommissioning
- Permits
- Solar, electrical and building permits filed on a parcel or in an area
- Monitoring
- New permits and zoning cases on the sites in your pipeline
How solar teams use Placestack
01
Screen counties
Compare how each county treats utility-scale solar before you send anyone into the field.
02
Find parcels
Filter by acreage and land use around your interconnection point.
03
Reach owners
Get owners and mailing addresses for the parcels you want.
04
Watch your pipeline
Monitor your sites for new zoning cases and permits.
Frequently asked questions
- What zoning does a solar farm need?
- It depends on the county. Utility-scale solar is most often allowed in agricultural or industrial districts, by right or with a special use permit, and with setbacks, buffers and a minimum lot size. Placestack shows each district's rule with the ordinance section.
- How do I find land for a solar farm?
- Filter parcels by acreage and land use around your interconnection point, check the zoning for solar, then get the owners' names and mailing addresses. Explorer and the API both cover each step.
- Can I see proposed rule changes?
- Yes. Proposed zoning amendments are marked as proposed before they take effect, and you can monitor sites for new zoning cases.
- Does it work for wind and battery storage?
- Yes. The same zoning search works for any use an ordinance lists, including wind energy and battery energy storage.
- Does Placestack have transmission or interconnection data?
- No. Placestack covers parcels, zoning, permits and zoning decisions. Use it with your interconnection data.
Related
- Zoning dataThe district, permitted uses and setbacks at an address.
- Zoning decisionsRezonings, variances, special uses, subdivisions and site plans.
- Parcel dataOwners, values, sales and boundaries for every parcel.
- Data centersLarge sites, the zoning that allows them, and local votes.
- ExplorerAI property search, maps and monitoring in your browser.
- MCP serverConnect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor to property and zoning data.
Find land for your next solar project
Start free. No credit card required. Contact sales for higher volumes.