Providence County
Providence County, Rhode Island: solar permitting grade B (score 35/100, 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 35/100 |
| Population | 638,931 |
| Solar ordinance | No specific solar ordinance recorded |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Improving (ordinance direction easing) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Providence County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. Rhode Island's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive. 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
In Rhode Island, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Providence County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Central Falls city
- Cranston city
- East Providence city
- Pawtucket city
- Providence city
- Woonsocket city
- Burrillville town
- Cumberland town
- Foster town
- Glocester town
- Johnston town
- Lincoln town
- North Providence town
- North Smithfield town
- Scituate town
- Smithfield town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Kent County · ≈13 miC42—
- Bristol County · ≈19 miB40—
- Windham County, CT · ≈21 miC50—
- Bristol County, MA · ≈27 miC42—
- Norfolk County, MA · ≈29 miB41—
- Newport County · ≈30 miC46—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Providence County ranks #1 of 5 ranked Rhode Island counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Rhode Island: Washington County (B · 37), Bristol County (B · 40), Kent County (C · 42). See all Rhode Island 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.