Cumberland County
Cumberland County, Maine: solar permitting grade B (score 34/100, 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 34/100 |
| Population | 319,194 |
| Solar ordinance | Active solar ordinance on the books |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Improving (ordinance direction easing) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Cumberland County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. Maine's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive. 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
In Maine, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Cumberland County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Portland city
- South Portland city
- Westbrook city
- Baldwin town
- Bridgton town
- Brunswick town
- Cape Elizabeth town
- Casco town
- Chebeague Island town
- Cumberland town
- Falmouth town
- Freeport town
- Frye Island town
- Gorham town
- Gray town
- Harpswell town
- Harrison town
- Long Island town
- Naples town
- New Gloucester town
- North Yarmouth town
- Pownal town
- Raymond town
- Scarborough town
Show all
- Sebago town
- Standish town
- Windham town
- Yarmouth town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Sagadahoc County · ≈25 miA28—
- Androscoggin County · ≈26 miD59—
- York County · ≈31 miC46—
- Lincoln County · ≈43 miB32—
- Carroll County, NH · ≈44 miB39—
- Strafford County, NH · ≈50 miB31—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Cumberland County ranks #7 of 16 ranked Maine counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Maine: Sagadahoc County (A · 28), Lincoln County (B · 32), Knox County (B · 33). See all Maine 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.