Big Stone County
Big Stone County, Minnesota: 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 | 4,897 |
| 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
Big Stone County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. Minnesota'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: Stevens County (≈23 mi) · Traverse County (≈24 mi) · Swift County (≈36 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Big Stone County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Barry city
- Beardsley city
- Clinton city
- Correll city
- Graceville city
- Johnson city
- Odessa city
- Ortonville city
- Akron township
- Almond township
- Artichoke township
- Big Stone township
- Browns Valley township
- Foster township
- Graceville township
- Malta township
- Moonshine township
- Odessa township
- Ortonville township
- Otrey township
- Prior township
- Toqua township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Stevens County · ≈23 miB36—
- Traverse County · ≈24 miB35—
- Grant County, SD · ≈25 miB36—
- Roberts County, SD · ≈30 miB36—
- Lac qui Parle County · ≈31 miB36—
- Swift County · ≈36 miB40—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Big Stone County ranks #9 of 87 ranked Minnesota counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Minnesota: Ramsey County (A · 26), Hennepin County (A · 27), Rock County (A · 28). See all Minnesota 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.