Addison County
Addison County, Vermont: solar permitting grade B (score 33/100, 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 33/100 |
| Population | 36,803 |
| 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
Addison County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. Vermont's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive.
Local intel
No energy-related meetings, PSC dockets, or named opposition tracked for this county yet. See indexed calendar →
Nearby counties where SitePath is tracking energy activity: Rutland County (≈32 mi) · Essex County (≈32 mi) · Windsor County (≈41 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
In Vermont, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Addison County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Vergennes city
- Addison town
- Bridport town
- Bristol town
- Cornwall town
- Ferrisburgh town
- Goshen town
- Granville town
- Hancock town
- Leicester town
- Lincoln town
- Middlebury town
- Monkton town
- New Haven town
- Orwell town
- Panton town
- Ripton town
- Salisbury town
- Shoreham town
- Starksboro town
- Waltham town
- Weybridge town
- Whiting town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Chittenden County · ≈30 miB36—
- Washington County · ≈31 miA27—
- Rutland County · ≈32 miB40—
- Essex County, NY · ≈32 miD52—
- Orange County · ≈38 miB30—
- Windsor County · ≈41 miB33—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Addison County ranks #9 of 14 ranked Vermont counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Vermont: Washington County (A · 27), Windham County (B · 30), Franklin County (B · 30). See all Vermont 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.