Washington County
Washington County, Illinois: solar permitting grade B (score 39/100, 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 39/100 |
| Population | 14,023 |
| Solar ordinance | Active solar ordinance on the books |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Washington 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
No energy-related meetings, PSC dockets, or named opposition tracked for this county yet. See indexed calendar →
Nearby counties where SitePath is tracking energy activity: Clinton County (≈18 mi) · Jefferson County (≈27 mi) · Randolph County (≈30 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Washington County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Ashley city
- Centralia citypartly in this county
- Nashville city
- Wamac citypartly in this county
- Addieville village
- Du Bois village
- Hoyleton village
- Irvington village
- New Minden village
- Oakdale village
- Okawville village
- Radom village
- Richview village
- Venedy village
- Ashley township
- Beaucoup township
- Bolo township
- Covington township
- Du Bois township
- Hoyleton township
- Irvington township
- Johannisburg township
- Lively Grove township
- Nashville township
Show all
- Oakdale township
- Okawville township
- Pilot Knob township
- Plum Hill township
- Richview township
- Venedy township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Clinton County · ≈18 miD57—
- Perry County · ≈19 miD53—
- Jefferson County · ≈27 miD58—
- St. Clair County · ≈29 miC46—
- Randolph County · ≈30 miC44—
- Marion County · ≈34 miC44—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Washington County ranks #26 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.