Saint Louis County
Saint Louis County, Minnesota: solar permitting grade A (score 29/100, Low Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | A · Low Risk · Score 29/100 |
| Population | 197,070 |
| Solar ordinance | Active, restrictive solar ordinance |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Saint Louis County is among the lower-risk jurisdictions in Minnesota for utility-scale solar development — ordinance conditions are favorable and permitting history is constructive. Minnesota'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
Local governments in Saint Louis County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Aurora city
- Babbitt city
- Biwabik city
- Brookston city
- Buhl city
- Chisholm city
- Cook city
- Duluth city
- Ely city
- Eveleth city
- Floodwood city
- Gilbert city
- Hermantown city
- Hibbing city
- Hoyt Lakes city
- Iron Junction city
- Kinney city
- Leonidas city
- McKinley city
- Meadowlands city
- Mountain Iron city
- Orr city
- Proctor city
- Rice Lake city
Show all
- Tower city
- Virginia city
- Winton city
- Alango township
- Alborn township
- Alden township
- Angora township
- Arrowhead township
- Ault township
- Balkan township
- Bassett township
- Beatty township
- Biwabik township
- Breitung township
- Brevator township
- Camp 5 township
- Canosia township
- Cedar Valley township
- Cherry township
- Clinton township
- Colvin township
- Cotton township
- Crane Lake township
- Culver township
- Duluth township
- Eagles Nest township
- Ellsburg township
- Elmer township
- Embarrass township
- Fairbanks township
- Fayal township
- Field township
- Fine Lakes township
- Floodwood township
- Fredenberg township
- French township
- Gnesen township
- Grand Lake township
- Great Scott township
- Greenwood township
- Halden township
- Industrial township
- Kabetogama township
- Kelsey township
- Kugler township
- Lakewood township
- Lavell township
- Leiding township
- Linden Grove township
- McDavitt township
- Meadowlands township
- Midway township
- Morcom township
- Morse township
- Ness township
- New Independence township
- Normanna township
- North Star township
- Northland township
- Owens township
- Pequaywan township
- Pike township
- Portage township
- Prairie Lake township
- Sandy township
- Solway township
- Stoney Brook township
- Sturgeon township
- Toivola township
- Van Buren township
- Vermilion Lake township
- Waasa township
- White township
- Willow Valley township
- Wuori township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Lake County · ≈49 miB35—
- Itasca County · ≈54 miB36—
- Carlton County · ≈68 miB41—
- Koochiching County · ≈76 miB36—
- Aitkin County · ≈81 miB36—
- Douglas County, WI · ≈82 miB38—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Saint Louis County ranks #4 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.