Alleghany County
Alleghany County, Virginia: solar permitting grade C (score 44/100, Elevated Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | C · Elevated Risk · Score 44/100 |
| Population | 14,860 |
| Solar ordinance | Active, restrictive solar ordinance |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Alleghany County carries elevated permitting risk. Developers should budget additional time for ordinance review, public hearing preparation, and community engagement. Virginia's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive.
Local intel
On file: energy-related meetings
- 2016-12-14BESS107 7.6.2.2 Battery Plant Equipment ................................................................................................................. · agenda
- Solar66 - ZONING OF THE COUNTY CODE TO ADD SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS: Public Hearing was held to consider amendments to Chapter 66-Zo ning of “The Code of t he County of… · agenda
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Alleghany County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Clifton Forge town
- Iron Gate town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Covington County · ≈1 miB34—
- Botetourt County · ≈20 miD61—
- Bath County · ≈25 miC46—
- Craig County · ≈25 miC47—
- Greenbrier County, WV · ≈26 miD57—
- Rockbridge County · ≈31 miC42—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Alleghany County ranks #68 of 133 ranked Virginia counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Virginia: Charlottesville County (A · 23), Falls Church County (A · 27), Manassas Park County (A · 27). See all Virginia 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.