Berkeley County
Berkeley County, West Virginia: solar permitting grade B (score 39/100, 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 39/100 |
| Population | 121,374 |
| 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
Berkeley County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. West Virginia's state policy environment adds headwinds — the absence of a strong RPS framework means county-level resistance faces less counterbalancing pressure.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Berkeley County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Martinsburg city
- Hedgesville town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Morgan County · ≈14 miC45—
- Jefferson County · ≈14 miC50—
- Washington County, MD · ≈15 miB37—
- Winchester County, VA · ≈21 miB33—
- Frederick County, VA · ≈21 miC51—
- Clarke County, VA · ≈24 miD63—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Berkeley County ranks #1 of 55 ranked West Virginia counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in West Virginia: Mineral County (C · 43), Kanawha County (C · 44), Putnam County (C · 45). See all West 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.