House Bill 618 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Matt SimpsonRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Solar farms; certain county commissions authorized to establish zoning requirements, penalties for violations and appeal process provided

Summary

HB618 authorizes Gulf-bordering Alabama counties to set zoning rules for solar farms, including permits, location, penalties, and an appeals process.

What This Bill Does

It lets county commissions in qualifying counties adopt resolutions regulating the permitting, construction, placement, or operation of solar farms (to protect coastline and watershed) and set standards and locations for unincorporated areas. It creates penalties for violations, including fines up to $1,000 and declaring violations a public nuisance, with removal of violative structures and costs liened to the landowner. It authorizes counties to levy permit and application fees to cover administration and review costs, including expenses for experts or consultants. It provides for exceptions and a variance process, plus an appeals path to circuit court for final variance decisions; the act takes effect October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• County commissions in Gulf-bordering counties, who may adopt and enforce solar farm regulations.
• Landowners or developers of solar farms in the unincorporated areas of those counties, who must follow permitting requirements and could face fines, removal, and liens.
• Applicants or other parties seeking exemptions or variances, who may appeal final variance decisions to the circuit court.

Key Provisions

• Defines County Commission and Solar Farm terms.
• Counts may adopt resolutions regulating permitting, construction, placement, or operation of solar farms and establish standards and locations in unincorporated areas.
• Penalties for violations: fines up to $1,000, violation is a public nuisance, and removal of violative structures with removal costs liened to landowner.
• Allows levy of permit and application fees to cover admin and review costs, including expert/consultant costs.
• Provides for exceptions/exemptions, a variance process, and a variance appeals process to circuit court.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 13, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Counties & Municipalities