Charles County
Charles County, Maryland: solar permitting grade D (score 55/100, High Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | D · High Risk · Score 55/100 |
| Population | 169,165 |
| Solar ordinance | Active solar ordinance on the books |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Charles County is a high-risk jurisdiction for utility-scale solar — documented ordinance hurdles are significant and approval history is mixed or unfavorable. 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 Charles County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Indian Head town
- La Plata town
- Port Tobacco Village town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- King George County, VA · ≈16 miC42—
- Alexandria County, VA · ≈24 miB39—
- Stafford County, VA · ≈24 miB41—
- Prince George's County · ≈26 miC50—
- Calvert County · ≈27 miD57—
- Westmoreland County, VA · ≈28 miB41—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Charles County ranks #19 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.