Ionia County
Ionia County, Michigan: solar permitting grade B (score 39/100, 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 39/100 |
| Population | 66,346 |
| 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
Ionia 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.
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 Ionia County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Belding city
- Ionia city
- Portland city
- Clarksville village
- Hubbardston villagepartly in this county
- Lake Odessa village
- Lyons village
- Muir village
- Pewamo village
- Saranac village
- Berlin township
- Boston township
- Campbell township
- Danby township
- Easton township
- Ionia township
- Keene township
- Lyons township
- North Plains township
- Odessa township
- Orange township
- Orleans township
- Otisco township
- Portland township
Show all
- Ronald township
- Sebewa township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Clinton County · ≈24 miC42—
- Kent County · ≈25 miB33—
- Montcalm County · ≈26 miB40—
- Eaton County · ≈27 miB40—
- Barry County · ≈28 miB34—
- Gratiot County · ≈34 miB35—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Ionia County ranks #59 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.