Hancock County
Hancock 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 | 55,178 |
| 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. 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
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: Washington County (≈47 mi) · Kennebec County (≈70 mi) · Sagadahoc County (≈86 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
In Maine, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Hancock County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Ellsworth city
- Amherst town
- Aurora town
- Bar Harbor town
- Blue Hill town
- Brooklin town
- Brooksville town
- Bucksport town
- Castine town
- Cranberry Isles town
- Dedham town
- Deer Isle town
- Eastbrook town
- Franklin town
- Frenchboro town
- Gouldsboro town
- Great Pond town
- Hancock town
- Lamoine town
- Mariaville town
- Mount Desert town
- Orland town
- Osborn town
- Otis town
Show all
- Penobscot town
- Sedgwick town
- Sorrento town
- Southwest Harbor town
- Stonington town
- Sullivan town
- Surry town
- Swans Island town
- Tremont town
- Trenton town
- Verona Island town
- Waltham town
- Winter Harbor town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Waldo County · ≈38 miB35—
- Washington County · ≈47 miB33—
- Knox County · ≈49 miB33—
- Penobscot County · ≈59 miB41—
- Lincoln County · ≈69 miB32—
- Kennebec County · ≈70 miC46—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Hancock County ranks #6 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.