Benton County
Benton County, Arkansas: solar permitting grade D (score 53/100, High Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | D · High Risk · Score 53/100 |
| Population | 279,141 |
| Solar ordinance | Active, restrictive solar ordinance |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Worsening (ordinance direction tightening) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Benton County is a high-risk jurisdiction for utility-scale solar — documented ordinance hurdles are significant and approval history is mixed or unfavorable. Arkansas'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 Benton County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Bella Vista city
- Bentonville city
- Bethel Heights city
- Cave Springs city
- Centerton city
- Decatur city
- Elm Springs city
- Gentry city
- Gravette city
- Little Flock city
- Lowell city
- Pea Ridge city
- Rogers city
- Siloam Springs city
- Springdale city
- Sulphur Springs city
- Avoca town
- Garfield town
- Gateway town
- Highfill town
- Springtown town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- McDonald County, MO · ≈21 miC51—
- Washington County · ≈25 miD54—
- Delaware County, OK · ≈31 miC46—
- Barry County, MO · ≈34 miD56—
- Madison County · ≈37 miF67—
- Adair County, OK · ≈38 miC44—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Benton County ranks #64 of 75 ranked Arkansas counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Arkansas: Phillips County (B · 32), Grant County (B · 34), Perry County (B · 34). See all Arkansas 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.