York County
York County, Virginia: solar permitting grade C (score 43/100, 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 43/100 |
| Population | 68,280 |
| 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
York 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
- SolarBoard of Supervisors approved a Special Use Permit for a 20-megawatt solar farm · agenda
- TransmissionChair Wassmer closed the public hearing on a transmission line project after no one spoke in opposition. · agenda
- SolarPlanning Commission extended a special-use permit for a solar farm until July 2025. · agenda
Nearby counties
- Poquoson County · ≈8 miB33—
- Newport News County · ≈12 miB33—
- Hampton County · ≈13 miA28—
- Gloucester County · ≈14 miB39—
- Mathews County · ≈16 miC42—
- Williamsburg County · ≈17 miB32—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
York County ranks #61 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.