Wind Residential Zoning and Permits

From Great Lakes Wiki

Before purchasing a turbine, potential home wind energy users need to investigate zoning ordinances in the community in which they reside. Contact your local zoning administrator to determine what ordinances may be on the books to help or hinder your ability to install a residential wind turbine. If you are the first on your block to consider wind energy, your local zoning office may be unfamiliar with this residential alternative, which may slow down the process of securing your building permit.

A major concern with structures of significant height – like a wind turbine – is where it may fall in the event of a structure collapse. “Setback” – the total height of your structure – will be a zoning concern as your zoning administrator will prefer to see that should your structure suffer a collapse, it will do so within your own property boundaries and not upon your neighbors. Talk with your neighbors, explaining your turbine proposal, to garner support as you move through the permit process.

Be prepared to show plans of your property boundaries and structures on the property including fencerows and show what structures are on adjoining property. Come with as much information as possible about your proposed turbine – if you have one already in mind.

After establishing zoning compliance, visiting the local building codes office is the next task on the permit trail. Remember, building codes are for the public’s safety and your local building code office may have many concerns about a wind turbine in a residential setting. Again, bring all of the same documentation that you shared with the zoning office. Be consistent, persistent, and cooperative in requests for information.

Sample Zoning Language from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth Energy Office for Wind and Solar Energyis available to municipalities as they establish and revise zoning oridinances as wind energy resources continue to become available to more residential turbine consumers. Become familiar with this information, as a potential wind turbine owner/user, to help navigate the permit waters before purchasing and installing your how turbine system.

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