Winneshiek County
Winneshiek County, Iowa: solar permitting grade B (score 38/100, 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 38/100 |
| Population | 19,991 |
| 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
Winneshiek County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Winneshiek County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Calmar city
- Castalia city
- Decorah city
- Fort Atkinson city
- Jackson Junction city
- Ossian city
- Ridgeway city
- Spillville city
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Allamakee County · ≈24 miB37—
- Howard County · ≈24 miB40—
- Chickasaw County · ≈28 miB37—
- Fillmore County, MN · ≈29 miB41—
- Fayette County · ≈30 miB37—
- Houston County, MN · ≈31 miB33—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Winneshiek County ranks #44 of 99 ranked Iowa counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Iowa: Polk County (A · 25), Scott County (A · 29), Wapello County (B · 31). See all Iowa 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.