Bennington County
Bennington County, Vermont: solar permitting grade B (score 31/100, 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 31/100 |
| Population | 35,519 |
| 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
Bennington 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
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
In Vermont, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Bennington County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Arlington town
- Bennington town
- Dorset town
- Landgrove town
- Manchester town
- Peru town
- Pownal town
- Readsboro town
- Rupert town
- Sandgate town
- Searsburg town
- Shaftsbury town
- Stamford town
- Sunderland town
- Winhall town
- Woodford town
- Manchester village
- North Bennington village
- Old Bennington village
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Windham County · ≈20 miB30—
- Washington County, NY · ≈25 miC42—
- Rensselaer County, NY · ≈30 miB35—
- Saratoga County, NY · ≈38 miB30—
- Rutland County · ≈38 miB40—
- Franklin County, MA · ≈41 miC49—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Bennington County ranks #7 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.