Does Essex County, Vermont have a solar moratorium?

No. As of 2026-05-02, Essex County, Vermont has no active solar moratorium on record. Score has been stable over the last 12 months.

What is Essex County’s solar permitting risk grade?

Essex County, Vermont has a SitePath solar permitting grade of B — risk score 35/100 (Moderate Risk). Grades are based on primary-source county ordinances, board votes, and permitting activity, reviewed as of 2026-05-02.

What are the solar permitting rules in Essex County, Vermont?

Ordinance status: Active solar ordinance on the books. Score has been stable over the last 12 months. See the full primary-source record — ordinance links, setbacks, board actions, and project history — on this page.

SitePath › County map › Vermont › Essex County

Vermont

Essex County

FIPS 50009

Essex County, Vermont: 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.

Score 35/100

Moderate Risk

Public summary

Grade	B · Moderate Risk · Score 35/100
Population	6,163
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

Essex 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: Orleans County (≈26 mi) · Carroll County (≈65 mi) · Androscoggin County (≈84 mi)

Browse all Vermont county grades →

Cities, towns & townships

In Vermont, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Essex County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.

Bloomfield town
Brighton town
Brunswick town
Canaan town
Concord town
East Haven town
Granby town
Guildhall town
Lemington town
Lunenburg town
Maidstone town
Norton town
Victory town

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.

Nearby counties

Coos County, NH · ≈22 miB39—
Caledonia County · ≈26 miB38—
Orleans County · ≈26 miB36—
Lamoille County · ≈45 miB31—
Oxford County, ME · ≈52 miB40—
Washington County · ≈53 miA27—

Compare these counties side-by-side →

Essex County ranks #10 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.

Open the full Essex County profile → Request a demo

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 →