Jackson County
Jackson County, North Carolina: solar permitting grade B (score 37/100, 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 37/100 |
| Population | 43,938 |
| Solar ordinance | No specific solar ordinance recorded |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Jackson County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation.
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: Transylvania County (≈18 mi) · Haywood County (≈21 mi) · Swain County (≈27 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Jackson County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Dillsboro town
- Highlands town
- Sylva town
- Webster town
- Forest Hills village
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Transylvania County · ≈18 miB37—
- Macon County · ≈19 miB37—
- Haywood County · ≈21 miC46—
- Swain County · ≈27 miD54—
- Rabun County, GA · ≈32 miB41—
- Pickens County, SC · ≈36 miD55—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Jackson County ranks #15 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.