Cumberland County
Cumberland County, Virginia: solar permitting grade C (score 51/100, 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 51/100 |
| Population | 10,290 |
| Solar ordinance | Active, restrictive solar ordinance |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Worsening (ordinance direction tightening) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Cumberland 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. Market saturation is elevated in this area — expect competition for prime land parcels and interconnection capacity.
Local intel
On file: energy-related meetings · PSC dockets · named opposition groups
- 2025-01-21SolarJohnson, Planning & Zoning Administrator RE: Further amendments to the Large-scale Solar Energy Ordinance 1 Proposed CA 21-05 Solar Facility Code Amendments… · agenda
- 2023-05-08SolarJohnson, Planning & Zoning Administrator RE: Further amendments to the Large-scale Solar Energy Ordinance 1 Proposed CA 21-05 Solar Facility Code Amendments… · agenda
- 2023-04-17SolarJohnson, Planning & Zoning Administrator RE: Further amendments to the Large-scale Solar Energy Ordinance 1 Proposed CA 21-05 Solar Facility Code Amendments… · agenda
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Cumberland County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Farmville town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Buckingham County · ≈16 miC49—
- Powhatan County · ≈19 miB40—
- Amelia County · ≈20 miC49—
- Fluvanna County · ≈22 miD52—
- Prince Edward County · ≈23 miC44—
- Goochland County · ≈23 miC46—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Cumberland County ranks #94 of 133 ranked Virginia counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Virginia: Charlottesville County (A · 23), Manassas Park County (A · 27), Falls Church 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.