Otero County
Otero County, Colorado: solar permitting grade A (score 29/100, Low Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | A · Low Risk · Score 29/100 |
| Population | 18,278 |
| Solar ordinance | No specific solar ordinance recorded |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Improving (ordinance direction easing) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Otero County is among the lower-risk jurisdictions in Colorado for utility-scale solar development — ordinance conditions are favorable and permitting history is constructive. Colorado'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 Otero County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- La Junta city
- Rocky Ford city
- Cheraw town
- Fowler town
- Manzanola town
- Swink town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Crowley County · ≈30 miA25—
- Bent County · ≈35 miA28—
- Las Animas County · ≈43 miB37—
- Pueblo County · ≈46 miD58—
- Kiowa County · ≈63 miA21—
- Huerfano County · ≈69 miB35—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Otero County ranks #20 of 64 ranked Colorado counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Colorado: Kit Carson County (A · 15), Baca County (A · 15), Cheyenne County (A · 17). See all Colorado 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.