Stafford County
Stafford County, Virginia: solar permitting grade B (score 41/100, 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 41/100 |
| Population | 173,948 |
| 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
Stafford County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. 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 · named opposition groups
- 2022-11-30BESSStafford County discussed a battery storage project, including its definition and current technology. · agenda
- 2022-11-30BESSStafford County discussed a battery storage project, including its definition and current technology. · agenda
- 2021-09-22Data Centero On a case by case basis, allow for the extension of public water and sewer utilities outside the USA for data center sites. · agenda
Nearby counties
- Fredericksburg County · ≈8 miA28—
- King George County · ≈19 miC42—
- Spotsylvania County · ≈20 miD65—
- Prince William County · ≈20 miC50—
- Manassas County · ≈23 miB32—
- Manassas Park County · ≈24 miA27—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Stafford County ranks #52 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.