Mackinac County
Mackinac County, Michigan: solar permitting grade C (score 49/100, Elevated Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | C · Elevated Risk · Score 49/100 |
| Population | 10,978 |
| 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
Mackinac County carries elevated permitting risk. Developers should budget additional time for ordinance review, public hearing preparation, and community engagement. 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 Mackinac County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Mackinac Island city
- St. Ignace city
- Bois Blanc township
- Brevort township
- Clark township
- Garfield township
- Hendricks township
- Hudson township
- Marquette township
- Moran township
- Newton township
- Portage township
- St. Ignace township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Chippewa County · ≈39 miB36—
- Emmet County · ≈43 miB34—
- Schoolcraft County · ≈44 miB35—
- Charlevoix County · ≈46 miD54—
- Luce County · ≈55 miB35—
- Cheboygan County · ≈62 miB38—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Mackinac County ranks #76 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.