Sanders County
Sanders County, Montana: 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 | 12,113 |
| Solar ordinance | Ordinance status documented in detail |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Sanders County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation.
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: Shoshone County (≈43 mi) · Kootenai County (≈71 mi) · Bonner County (≈76 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Sanders County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Thompson Falls city
- Hot Springs town
- Plains town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Mineral County · ≈42 miB33—
- Shoshone County, ID · ≈43 miC51—
- Lake County · ≈52 miB41—
- Lincoln County · ≈55 miB40—
- Flathead County · ≈65 miB38—
- Kootenai County, ID · ≈71 miD56—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Sanders County ranks #31 of 56 ranked Montana counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Montana: Jefferson County (A · 25), Broadwater County (A · 25), Garfield County (A · 27). See all Montana 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.