Swain County
Swain County, North Carolina: solar permitting grade D (score 54/100, 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 54/100 |
| Population | 15,424 |
| Solar ordinance | No specific solar ordinance recorded |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Worsening (ordinance direction tightening) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Data-center activity | Moratorium ACTIVE |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Swain County is a high-risk jurisdiction for utility-scale solar — documented ordinance hurdles are significant and approval history is mixed or unfavorable.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Swain County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Bryson City town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Sevier County, TN · ≈16 miD56—
- Graham County · ≈26 miC49—
- Blount County, TN · ≈27 miC49—
- Jackson County · ≈27 miB37—
- Haywood County · ≈28 miC46—
- Macon County · ≈29 miB37—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Swain County ranks #87 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.