Onslow County
Onslow County, North Carolina: solar permitting grade B (score 38/100, 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 38/100 |
| Population | 202,975 |
| 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
Onslow County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. 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 Onslow County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Jacksonville city
- Holly Ridge town
- North Topsail Beach town
- Richlands town
- Surf City town
- Swansboro town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Jones County · ≈20 miC50—
- Duplin County · ≈27 miC50—
- Pender County · ≈28 miB38—
- Lenoir County · ≈34 miC50—
- Craven County · ≈34 miC47—
- New Hanover County · ≈46 miB35—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Onslow County ranks #17 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.