Niagara County
Niagara County, New York: solar permitting grade D (score 54/100, High Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | D · High Risk · Score 54/100 |
| Population | 208,317 |
| Solar ordinance | No specific solar ordinance recorded |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Niagara County is a high-risk jurisdiction for utility-scale solar — documented ordinance hurdles are significant and approval history is mixed or unfavorable. New York's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive. Market saturation is elevated in this area — expect competition for prime land parcels and interconnection capacity.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
In New York, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Niagara County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Lockport city
- Niagara Falls city
- North Tonawanda city
- Cambria town
- Hartland town
- Lewiston town
- Lockport town
- Newfane town
- Niagara town
- Pendleton town
- Porter town
- Royalton town
- Somerset town
- Wheatfield town
- Wilson town
- Barker village
- Lewiston village
- Middleport village
- Wilson village
- Youngstown village
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Orleans County · ≈28 miB33—
- Genesee County · ≈44 miD64—
- Erie County · ≈49 miB35—
- Monroe County · ≈57 miC43—
- Wyoming County · ≈59 miB40—
- Livingston County · ≈72 miB38—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Niagara County ranks #54 of 62 ranked New York counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in New York: Bronx County (A · 28), Saratoga County (B · 30), Queens County (B · 30). See all New York 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.