Hancock County
Hancock County, Illinois: solar permitting grade B (score 31/100, Moderate Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | B · Moderate Risk · Score 31/100 |
| Population | 17,773 |
| 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
Hancock County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. Illinois's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Hancock County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Carthage city
- Dallas City city
- Hamilton city
- La Harpe city
- Nauvoo city
- Warsaw city
- Bentley town
- Augusta village
- Basco village
- Bowen village
- Elvaston village
- Ferris village
- Plymouth village
- Pontoosuc village
- West Point village
- Appanoose township
- Augusta township
- Bear Creek township
- Carthage township
- Chili township
- Dallas City township
- Durham township
- Fountain Green township
- Hancock township
Show all
- Harmony township
- La Harpe township
- Montebello township
- Nauvoo township
- Pilot Grove township
- Pontoosuc township
- Prairie township
- Rock Creek township
- Rocky Run-Wilcox township
- Sonora township
- St. Albans township
- St. Mary township
- Walker township
- Warsaw township
- Wythe township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Lee County, IA · ≈23 miB39—
- McDonough County · ≈26 miB39—
- Adams County · ≈29 miB39—
- Clark County, MO · ≈30 miB39—
- Henderson County · ≈31 miA30—
- Schuyler County · ≈34 miB32—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Hancock County ranks #5 of 102 ranked Illinois counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Illinois: DeWitt County (A · 26), Bureau County (A · 26), Edgar County (A · 28). See all Illinois 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.