Mendocino County
Mendocino County, California: solar permitting grade B (score 41/100, 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 41/100 |
| Population | 88,093 |
| Solar ordinance | No specific solar ordinance recorded |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Mendocino County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. California's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Mendocino County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Fort Bragg city
- Point Arena city
- Ukiah city
- Willits city
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Lake County · ≈44 miB41—
- Glenn County · ≈57 miA26—
- Colusa County · ≈67 miA23—
- Sonoma County · ≈68 miC48—
- Tehama County · ≈80 miB39—
- Trinity County · ≈86 miB36—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Mendocino County ranks #21 of 58 ranked California counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in California: Colusa County (A · 23), Glenn County (A · 26), Siskiyou County (A · 29). See all California 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.