Columbus County
Columbus County, North Carolina: solar permitting grade C (score 48/100, 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 48/100 |
| Population | 54,769 |
| Solar ordinance | Active, restrictive solar ordinance |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Columbus County carries elevated permitting risk. Developers should budget additional time for ordinance review, public hearing preparation, and community engagement. 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: Bladen County (≈24 mi) · Brunswick County (≈28 mi) · Robeson County (≈37 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Columbus County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Whiteville city
- Boardman town
- Bolton town
- Brunswick town
- Cerro Gordo town
- Chadbourn town
- Fair Bluff town
- Lake Waccamaw town
- Sandyfield town
- Tabor City town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Bladen County · ≈24 miB41—
- Brunswick County · ≈28 miB34—
- Horry County, SC · ≈31 miD59—
- Robeson County · ≈37 miB39—
- Dillon County, SC · ≈43 miC44—
- Marion County, SC · ≈43 miB32—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Columbus County ranks #62 of 100 ranked North Carolina counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in North Carolina: Iredell County (A · 28), Tyrrell County (B · 31), Cherokee County (B · 31). See all North Carolina 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.