Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County, Michigan: solar permitting grade D (score 54/100, 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 54/100 |
| Population | 27,648 |
| Solar ordinance | Active solar ordinance on the books |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Data-center activity | Township/City Moratorium (county not) |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Charlevoix County is a high-risk jurisdiction for utility-scale solar — documented ordinance hurdles are significant and approval history is mixed or unfavorable. Michigan'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
In Michigan, townships hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Charlevoix County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Boyne City city
- Charlevoix city
- East Jordan city
- Boyne Falls village
- Bay township
- Boyne Valley township
- Chandler township
- Charlevoix township
- Evangeline township
- Eveline township
- Hayes township
- Hudson township
- Marion township
- Melrose township
- Norwood township
- Peaine township
- South Arm township
- St. James township
- Wilson township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Emmet County · ≈23 miB34—
- Antrim County · ≈38 miB34—
- Leelanau County · ≈39 miB37—
- Mackinac County · ≈46 miC49—
- Cheboygan County · ≈46 miB38—
- Schoolcraft County · ≈50 miB35—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Charlevoix County ranks #81 of 83 ranked Michigan counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Michigan: Macomb County (A · 28), Oakland County (A · 29), Washtenaw County (B · 31). See all Michigan 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.