Oceana County
Oceana County, Michigan: solar permitting grade B (score 33/100, 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 33/100 |
| Population | 26,467 |
| 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
Oceana 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 Oceana County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Hart city
- Hesperia villagepartly in this county
- New Era village
- Pentwater village
- Rothbury village
- Shelby village
- Walkerville village
- Benona township
- Claybanks township
- Colfax township
- Crystal township
- Elbridge township
- Ferry township
- Golden township
- Grant township
- Greenwood township
- Hart township
- Leavitt township
- Newfield township
- Otto township
- Pentwater township
- Shelby township
- Weare township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Mason County · ≈24 miB34—
- Muskegon County · ≈25 miB37—
- Ozaukee County, WI · ≈40 miD53—
- Manitowoc County, WI · ≈40 miD62—
- Sheboygan County, WI · ≈47 miC51—
- Ottawa County · ≈49 miB34—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Oceana County ranks #5 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.