Waldo County
Waldo County, Maine: solar permitting grade B (score 35/100, 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 35/100 |
| Population | 39,784 |
| 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
Waldo 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: Kennebec County (≈31 mi) · Sagadahoc County (≈54 mi) · Androscoggin County (≈58 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
In Maine, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Waldo County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Belfast city
- Belmont town
- Brooks town
- Burnham town
- Frankfort town
- Freedom town
- Islesboro town
- Jackson town
- Knox town
- Liberty town
- Lincolnville town
- Monroe town
- Montville town
- Morrill town
- Northport town
- Palermo town
- Prospect town
- Searsmont town
- Searsport town
- Stockton Springs town
- Swanville town
- Thorndike town
- Troy town
- Unity town
Show all
- Waldo town
- Winterport town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Kennebec County · ≈31 miC46—
- Knox County · ≈32 miB33—
- Hancock County · ≈38 miB34—
- Lincoln County · ≈40 miB32—
- Sagadahoc County · ≈54 miA28—
- Androscoggin County · ≈58 miD59—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Waldo County ranks #8 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.