Mason County
Mason 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 | 28,967 |
| 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
Mason 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
No energy-related meetings, PSC dockets, or named opposition tracked for this county yet. See indexed calendar →
Nearby counties where SitePath is tracking energy activity: Oceana County (≈24 mi) · Manistee County (≈26 mi) · Manitowoc County (≈29 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
In Michigan, townships hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Mason County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Ludington city
- Scottville city
- Custer village
- Fountain village
- Free Soil village
- Amber township
- Branch township
- Custer township
- Eden township
- Free Soil township
- Grant township
- Hamlin township
- Logan township
- Meade township
- Pere Marquette charter township
- Riverton township
- Sheridan township
- Sherman township
- Summit township
- Victory township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Oceana County · ≈24 miB33—
- Manistee County · ≈26 miB34—
- Manitowoc County, WI · ≈29 miD62—
- Kewaunee County, WI · ≈40 miC50—
- Lake County · ≈47 miB35—
- Benzie County · ≈47 miB34—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Mason County ranks #16 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.