Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County, Arizona: solar permitting grade C (score 44/100, 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 44/100 |
| Population | 46,498 |
| 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
Santa Cruz County carries elevated permitting risk. Developers should budget additional time for ordinance review, public hearing preparation, and community engagement.
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: Cochise County (≈69 mi) · Pima County (≈69 mi) · Pinal County (≈101 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Santa Cruz County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Nogales city
- Patagonia town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Cochise County · ≈69 miD62—
- Pima County · ≈69 miD57—
- Pinal County · ≈101 miC45—
- Graham County · ≈112 miC45—
- Hidalgo County, NM · ≈126 miA29—
- Greenlee County · ≈151 miC50—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Santa Cruz County ranks #4 of 15 ranked Arizona counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Arizona: Coconino County (B · 35), Apache County (B · 41), Navajo County (B · 41). See all Arizona 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.