Philadelphia County
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: solar permitting grade C (score 42/100, 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 42/100 |
| Population | 1,603,797 |
| Solar ordinance | Active solar ordinance on the books |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Improving (ordinance direction easing) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Philadelphia County carries elevated permitting risk. Developers should budget additional time for ordinance review, public hearing preparation, and community engagement.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
In Pennsylvania, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Philadelphia County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Philadelphia city
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Delaware County · ≈15 miC48—
- Camden County, NJ · ≈17 miB40—
- Montgomery County · ≈19 miB33—
- Gloucester County, NJ · ≈20 miB37—
- Bucks County · ≈23 miB41—
- Burlington County, NJ · ≈27 miB33—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Philadelphia County ranks #15 of 67 ranked Pennsylvania counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Pennsylvania: Montgomery County (B · 33), Monroe County (B · 35), Perry County (B · 36). See all Pennsylvania 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.