Knox County
Knox County, Maine: solar permitting grade B (score 33/100, 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 33/100 |
| Population | 40,607 |
| Solar ordinance | Active, restrictive solar ordinance |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Improving (ordinance direction easing) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Knox 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.
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: Sagadahoc County (≈41 mi) · Kennebec County (≈44 mi) · Androscoggin County (≈59 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
In Maine, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Knox County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Rockland city
- Appleton town
- Camden town
- Cushing town
- Friendship town
- Hope town
- Isle au Haut town
- North Haven town
- Owls Head town
- Rockport town
- South Thomaston town
- St. George town
- Thomaston town
- Union town
- Vinalhaven town
- Warren town
- Washington town
- Matinicus Isle plantation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Lincoln County · ≈24 miB32—
- Waldo County · ≈32 miB35—
- Sagadahoc County · ≈41 miA28—
- Kennebec County · ≈44 miC46—
- Hancock County · ≈49 miB34—
- Androscoggin County · ≈59 miD59—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Knox County ranks #3 of 16 ranked Maine counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Maine: Sagadahoc County (A · 28), Lincoln County (B · 32), Washington 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.