Hillsdale County
Hillsdale County, Michigan: solar permitting grade B (score 34/100, 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 34/100 |
| Population | 45,605 |
| 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 |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Hillsdale County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. Michigan's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive. Market saturation is elevated in this area — expect competition for prime land parcels and interconnection capacity.
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 Hillsdale County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Hillsdale city
- Jonesville city
- Litchfield city
- Reading city
- Allen village
- Camden village
- Montgomery village
- North Adams village
- Waldron village
- Adams township
- Allen township
- Amboy township
- Cambria township
- Camden township
- Fayette township
- Hillsdale township
- Jefferson township
- Litchfield township
- Moscow township
- Pittsford township
- Ransom township
- Reading township
- Scipio township
- Somerset township
Show all
- Wheatland township
- Woodbridge township
- Wright township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Williams County, OH · ≈21 miC46—
- Branch County · ≈22 miC50—
- Steuben County, IN · ≈24 miC48—
- Jackson County · ≈29 miB40—
- Lenawee County · ≈30 miC51—
- Calhoun County · ≈32 miC49—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Hillsdale County ranks #10 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.