Whatcom County
Whatcom County, Washington: solar permitting grade B (score 33/100, 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 33/100 |
| Population | 229,247 |
| Solar ordinance | No specific solar ordinance recorded |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Improving (ordinance direction easing) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Whatcom County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. Washington's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive.
Local intel
No energy-related meetings, PSC dockets, or named opposition tracked for this county yet. See indexed calendar →
Nearby counties where SitePath is tracking energy activity: Skagit County (≈24 mi) · Snohomish County (≈55 mi) · Island County (≈61 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Whatcom County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Bellingham city
- Blaine city
- Everson city
- Ferndale city
- Lynden city
- Nooksack city
- Sumas city
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Skagit County · ≈24 miD60—
- Snohomish County · ≈55 miA29—
- Island County · ≈61 miB40—
- San Juan County · ≈62 miC44—
- Chelan County · ≈88 miB35—
- Kitsap County · ≈91 miB37—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Whatcom County ranks #6 of 39 ranked Washington counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Washington: Thurston County (A · 23), Pierce County (A · 29), Snohomish County (A · 29). See all Washington 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.