Burke County
Burke County, Georgia: solar permitting grade D (score 54/100, High Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | D · High Risk · Score 54/100 |
| Population | 22,529 |
| Solar ordinance | Active, restrictive solar ordinance |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Burke County is a high-risk jurisdiction for utility-scale solar — documented ordinance hurdles are significant and approval history is mixed or unfavorable. Georgia's state policy environment adds headwinds — the absence of a strong RPS framework means county-level resistance faces less counterbalancing pressure. Market saturation is elevated in this area — expect competition for prime land parcels and interconnection capacity.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Burke County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Blythe city
- Keysville city
- Midville city
- Sardis city
- Vidette city
- Waynesboro city
- Girard town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Jenkins County · ≈19 miB38—
- Richmond County · ≈21 miC49—
- Jefferson County · ≈24 miC50—
- Screven County · ≈31 miB35—
- Barnwell County, SC · ≈36 miC47—
- Columbia County · ≈37 miF66—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Burke County ranks #128 of 159 ranked Georgia counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Georgia: Seminole County (B · 30), Charlton County (B · 30), Hart County (B · 31). See all Georgia county grades →
Want the full record?
Setback distances, board vote histories, source documents, and ordinance amendments are available in the full county profile. The map is free; a walkthrough shows you the underlying record.
About this score
Every U.S. county is scored 0–100 on solar permitting risk (lower is friendlier to development). The grade is a weighted composite of compliance stringency, market saturation, regulatory trajectory, and data uncertainty. Every figure traces back to a primary government document. Read the full methodology →
Related reading
SitePath Intelligence is a research platform. Data verified as of 2026-05-02. Scores update on a quarterly review cycle.