Rutland County
Rutland County, Vermont: solar permitting grade B (score 40/100, 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 40/100 |
| Population | 59,273 |
| 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
Rutland 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. 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 Vermont, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Rutland County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Rutland city
- Benson town
- Brandon town
- Castleton town
- Chittenden town
- Clarendon town
- Danby town
- Fair Haven town
- Hubbardton town
- Ira town
- Killington town
- Mendon town
- Middletown Springs town
- Mount Holly town
- Mount Tabor town
- Pawlet town
- Pittsfield town
- Pittsford town
- Poultney town
- Proctor town
- Rutland town
- Shrewsbury town
- Sudbury town
- Tinmouth town
Show all
- Wallingford town
- Wells town
- West Haven town
- West Rutland town
- Poultney village
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Windsor County · ≈22 miB33—
- Washington County, NY · ≈27 miC42—
- Addison County · ≈32 miB33—
- Bennington County · ≈38 miB31—
- Warren County, NY · ≈40 miB35—
- Windham County · ≈43 miB30—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Rutland County ranks #14 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.