Albemarle County ARB narrows rooftop solar guidelines, backs 8-inch top-of-panel limit
May 11, 2026 | Albemarle County, Virginia
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The Albemarle County Architecture Review Board spent its May 11 meeting on a work session to refine draft countywide criteria for rooftop solar installations, with staff and members clearing several text issues and narrowing measurement guidance for rooftop panels.
Margaret, a county staff member, walked the board through edits made after an earlier January discussion and said she revised language so panels must be mounted "parallel to the roof plane." She reviewed precedent from other Virginia localities and recommended clarifying how the measurement from roof to panel is taken; the board generally supported measuring to the top of the panel and using an 8-inch guideline.
"So that criteria now reads that panels mounted parallel to the roof plane," Margaret said during the presentation. She told the board she had found examples showing 8 inches (Chesapeake), 6–8 inches (Richmond/Smithfield) and up to 12 inches (Williamsburg) in other localities and said she would clarify whether the measurement would be taken to the underside or top of the panel; the board favored the top-of-panel standard.
Members also asked that mounting or racking systems not extend beyond the panels or the roof; staff added criterion language to that effect. For flat roofs Margaret proposed that installations fully screened by parapets need not go to the ARB and could be handled through staff review with documentation submitted at the building-permit stage; the board discussed thresholds for what constitutes "screened" and asked for sight-line or elevation documentation options.
On solar parking canopies the board generally agreed that adding panels to existing canopies could be handled under the same countywide criteria as roof-mounted panels, but that new or visually prominent canopies (large arrays or dramatic profiles) should be reserved for full ARB review rather than be eligible for countywide certificates.
The board discussed solar shingles and agreed they often sit in the roof plane and may already meet the panel criteria, though color and pattern could be subject to review; members said staff should see an application before drafting additional countywide rules for shingles.
Staff will make the edits discussed and bring the redline back to the ARB for finalization and adoption; Margaret said the related zoning-ordinance text change will go to the Planning Commission on May 26 as part of the adoption process.
The work session advanced draft language on panel mounting, clearance and screening but left detailed thresholds (for parapet screening and canopy review triggers) to be refined in the next draft.
Margaret, a county staff member, walked the board through edits made after an earlier January discussion and said she revised language so panels must be mounted "parallel to the roof plane." She reviewed precedent from other Virginia localities and recommended clarifying how the measurement from roof to panel is taken; the board generally supported measuring to the top of the panel and using an 8-inch guideline.
"So that criteria now reads that panels mounted parallel to the roof plane," Margaret said during the presentation. She told the board she had found examples showing 8 inches (Chesapeake), 6–8 inches (Richmond/Smithfield) and up to 12 inches (Williamsburg) in other localities and said she would clarify whether the measurement would be taken to the underside or top of the panel; the board favored the top-of-panel standard.
Members also asked that mounting or racking systems not extend beyond the panels or the roof; staff added criterion language to that effect. For flat roofs Margaret proposed that installations fully screened by parapets need not go to the ARB and could be handled through staff review with documentation submitted at the building-permit stage; the board discussed thresholds for what constitutes "screened" and asked for sight-line or elevation documentation options.
On solar parking canopies the board generally agreed that adding panels to existing canopies could be handled under the same countywide criteria as roof-mounted panels, but that new or visually prominent canopies (large arrays or dramatic profiles) should be reserved for full ARB review rather than be eligible for countywide certificates.
The board discussed solar shingles and agreed they often sit in the roof plane and may already meet the panel criteria, though color and pattern could be subject to review; members said staff should see an application before drafting additional countywide rules for shingles.
Staff will make the edits discussed and bring the redline back to the ARB for finalization and adoption; Margaret said the related zoning-ordinance text change will go to the Planning Commission on May 26 as part of the adoption process.
The work session advanced draft language on panel mounting, clearance and screening but left detailed thresholds (for parapet screening and canopy review triggers) to be refined in the next draft.
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