Monterey County
Monterey County, California: solar permitting grade F (score 67/100, Very High Risk). Score has worsened by 11 points over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | F · Very High Risk · Score 67/100 |
| Population | 434,061 |
| Solar ordinance | Ordinance status not yet documented |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Permitting trajectory | Declining (regulatory environment becoming more restrictive) |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Monterey County is very high risk for utility-scale solar permitting. Significant regulatory barriers are on record, and approval is not likely without substantial process investment. Conditions have been tightening over the past 12 months — watch for additional ordinance changes or board activity. California's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive.
Local intel
0 energy-related meetings · 4 opposition groups
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; paid tiers unlock the underlying record.
Open the full Monterey County profile →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 →
SitePath Intelligence is a research platform. Data verified as of 2026-05-02. Scores update on a quarterly review cycle.