Carroll County
Carroll County, Maryland: solar permitting grade F (score 66/100, Very High Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | F · Very High Risk · Score 66/100 |
| Population | 171,603 |
| Solar ordinance | Active solar ordinance on the books |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Worsening (ordinance direction tightening) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Data-center activity | Moratorium ACTIVE (12-month, adopted 2026-02-19) |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Carroll County is very high risk for utility-scale solar permitting. Significant regulatory barriers are on record, and approval is not likely without substantial process investment. Maryland's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Carroll County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Taneytown city
- Westminster city
- Hampstead town
- Manchester town
- Mount Airy town
- New Windsor town
- Sykesville town
- Union Bridge town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Frederick County · ≈21 miD65—
- Howard County · ≈22 miC51—
- Baltimore County · ≈23 miC49—
- Adams County, PA · ≈24 miC43—
- Baltimore City · ≈28 miC42—
- York County, PA · ≈29 miD53—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Carroll County ranks #24 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.