Yellowstone County
Yellowstone County, Montana: solar permitting grade C (score 48/100, 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 48/100 |
| Population | 184,234 |
| Solar ordinance | Ordinance status documented in detail |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Worsening (ordinance direction tightening) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Yellowstone County carries elevated permitting risk. Developers should budget additional time for ordinance review, public hearing preparation, and community engagement.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Yellowstone County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Billings city
- Laurel city
- Broadview town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Musselshell County · ≈40 miB33—
- Treasure County · ≈51 miB31—
- Big Horn County · ≈52 miB36—
- Golden Valley County · ≈53 miB35—
- Stillwater County · ≈57 miA29—
- Carbon County · ≈61 miB33—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Yellowstone County ranks #53 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.