Nelson County
Nelson County, Virginia: solar permitting grade C (score 49/100, 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 49/100 |
| Population | 14,468 |
| 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
Nelson 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
- 2042-09-16Data CenterNelson County discussed proposed wholesale rates and fees for a data center project · agenda
- 2024-12-20BESSNelson County Board of Supervisors approved a special use permit for a battery storage project · agenda
- 2024-12-20BESSNelson County Board of Supervisors approved a special use permit for a battery storage project · agenda
Nearby counties
- Amherst County · ≈18 miD60—
- Waynesboro County · ≈19 miB33—
- Albemarle County · ≈24 miB33—
- Buckingham County · ≈24 miC49—
- Buena Vista County · ≈26 miB34—
- Staunton County · ≈27 miB33—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Nelson County ranks #89 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.