Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County, Mississippi: solar permitting grade C (score 46/100, 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 46/100 |
| Population | 74,624 |
| 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
Lauderdale County carries elevated permitting risk. Developers should budget additional time for ordinance review, public hearing preparation, and community engagement. Mississippi's state policy environment adds headwinds — the absence of a strong RPS framework means county-level resistance faces less counterbalancing pressure.
Local intel
On file: energy-related meetings
- Data CenterData center project discussed with Lauderdale County officials, addressing concerns about electric and water needs. · agenda
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Lauderdale County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Meridian city
- Marion town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Kemper County · ≈24 miC42—
- Clarke County · ≈25 miC44—
- Newton County · ≈27 miB41—
- Sumter County, AL · ≈30 miD53—
- Neshoba County · ≈36 miB41—
- Choctaw County, AL · ≈37 miD53—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Lauderdale County ranks #67 of 82 ranked Mississippi counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Mississippi: Rankin County (A · 28), Madison County (B · 31), Lamar County (B · 32). See all Mississippi 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.