SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / FL / Hillsborough

Hillsborough County, FL — Solar Development Risk Assessment

Local solar ordinance barriers, board sentiment, and utility policies that affect development timelines and risk.

34.2
Risk Grade
Excellent
Tampa metro; Tampa Electric (TECO/Emera) territory with active IRP solar commitments; improving trajectory; CUP process workable; moderate compliance; strong economic growth driving C&I and utility-scale solar market; county supportive of development
Assessment Snapshot
Population
1459762
State Rank
#8
Compliance
45%
Trajectory
20

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
Standard zoning setbacks; no solar-specific setbacks beyond code requirements
Zoning Mechanism
CUP required in agricultural/rural zones; site plan review in commercial/industrial zones; TECO net metering and interconnection available
Acreage Caps
None established
Density Caps
None established
Spacing Rules
None established
Size Restrictions
No county cap; FPSA applies for facilities >75 MW (FL DEP siting jurisdiction)

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Neutral–Supportive
Basis for Assessment
Tampa Economic Development focus drives solar-supportive posture; TECO (Emera) IRP committed to significant solar additions through 2030; county commission supportive; growing C&I rooftop market; improving trajectory from TECO IRP and urban sustainability programs
Political Risk Factors
Improving
Board Members
Commissioner Ken Hagan (Chair), Commissioner Christine Miller (VC), Commissioner Gwen Myers, Commissioner Harry Cohen, Commissioner Chris Boles, Commissioner Joshua Wostal

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
SERC / FRCC | Tampa Electric (Emera) transmission zone
Utilities
Tampa Electric Company (TECO / Emera), Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (partial eastern Hillsborough)
State Permitting Process
Florida Power Siting Act (FPSA) — Florida DEP has siting jurisdiction for facilities >75 MW. Below 75 MW, county land use authority governs via CUP/SUP process. Florida Statute §163.3205 (2024) limits county restrictions on solar in agricultural zones — cannot prohibit as a matter of law. No state-level preemption below 75 MW threshold. FPL (NextEra Energy) dominates utility-scale procurement in southern and eastern FL; Duke Energy Florida serves central west coast; Tampa Electric (TECO) serves Hillsborough/Polk corridor; Florida Power & Light interconnects through FPL transmission. County commission approves CUPs for projects <75 MW in unincorporated areas.
State Incentives
Florida has no state RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) — only a voluntary goal (100% clean energy by 2050). Key incentives: Federal ITC (30% base + energy community/domestic content adders). Florida Statute §163.3205 (2024) limits local government ability to restrict solar on agricultural land — counties cannot ban solar outright on ag-zoned land. Net metering available. Property tax exemption for residential solar (FL Const. Art. VII §3). No state income tax. USDA REAP for rural projects. FPL, Duke Energy Florida, and Tampa Electric IRP programs include significant utility-scale solar procurement.

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
TECO Apollo Beach Solar (~75 MW, 2021); TECO Brandon Solar (pipeline); Hillsborough County government facility solar installations; Tampa General Hospital solar; [TBV additional utility-scale CUP approvals in eastern rural Hillsborough]
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
None on record

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Last verified: April 2026 (web research) | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes