Published March 12, 2026

Fort Mill Solar Factory Dispute: What’s Happening With the Silfab Project?

Written by Jay White

Fort Mill Solar Factory Dispute: What’s Happening With the Silfab Project? header image.

CHARLOTTE REGION | DEVELOPMENT | MARKET WATCH

A major solar panel manufacturing project underway in Fort Mill is now at the center of a zoning dispute in York County — and local officials may soon have to decide what happens next.

The project involves Silfab Solar, a company building a manufacturing facility in the Fort Mill area. But a recent legal development has raised questions about whether the construction permits issued for the project are actually valid.

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Here’s the quick overview...

How the Dispute Started

In May 2024, the York County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) ruled that solar panel manufacturing was not permitted in a light industrial zoning district.

That ruling could have affected the Silfab project.

However, about a month later, York County officials issued a statement saying the decision did not apply to Silfab, and construction permits for the facility continued to be issued.

A Legal Challenge Emerges

More recently, attorneys representing the Board of Zoning Appeals filed documents in circuit court that appear to contradict the county’s earlier position.

According to those filings, the BZA’s ruling did apply to the Silfab project, meaning the permits issued afterward could potentially be considered invalid.

If that interpretation holds, it could create a significant legal question around the project’s approval process.

What Happens Next?

York County leaders now face a choice on how to move forward.

Possible outcomes could include:

Rezoning the property to allow solar panel manufacturing
Reevaluating the permits already issued for the project

At this stage, the situation is still evolving, and additional legal or council decisions may determine the final outcome.

Why This Matters

Large industrial projects like this can have ripple effects across the region — from job creation and economic development to local infrastructure and housing demand.

Because Fort Mill sits just south of Charlotte and continues to attract growth from the metro area, developments like the Silfab facility are closely watched by both local officials and regional planners.

We’ll continue tracking the story as new updates emerge.