Baltimore City
Baltimore City, Maryland: solar permitting grade C (score 42/100, Elevated Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | C · Elevated Risk · Score 42/100 |
| Population | 585,708 |
| 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
Baltimore City carries elevated permitting risk. Developers should budget additional time for ordinance review, public hearing preparation, and community engagement. Maryland'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
Local governments in Baltimore City. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Baltimore city
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Baltimore County · ≈10 miC49—
- Howard County · ≈17 miC51—
- Anne Arundel County · ≈21 miB34—
- Harford County · ≈23 miD65—
- Kent County · ≈26 miB40—
- Carroll County · ≈28 miF66—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Baltimore City ranks #6 of 24 ranked Maryland counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Maryland: Anne Arundel County (B · 34), Washington County (B · 37), St. Mary's County (B · 38). See all Maryland 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.