Fairfield County
Fairfield County, South Carolina: solar permitting grade B (score 39/100, 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 39/100 |
| Population | 22,347 |
| Solar ordinance | Active solar ordinance on the books |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Fairfield County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. South Carolina's state policy environment adds headwinds — the absence of a strong RPS framework means county-level resistance faces less counterbalancing pressure.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Fairfield County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Blythewood town
- Jenkinsville town
- Ridgeway town
- Winnsboro town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Chester County · ≈20 miC42—
- Newberry County · ≈28 miB39—
- Richland County · ≈29 miC44—
- Kershaw County · ≈31 miB41—
- Lancaster County · ≈31 miD54—
- Union County · ≈34 miB34—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Fairfield County ranks #11 of 46 ranked South Carolina counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in South Carolina: Marion County (B · 32), Union County (B · 34), Clarendon County (B · 34). See all South 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.