Orleans County
Orleans County, New York: 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 | 40,510 |
| 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
Orleans County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. New York'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
In New York, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Orleans County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Albion town
- Barre town
- Carlton town
- Clarendon town
- Gaines town
- Kendall town
- Murray town
- Ridgeway town
- Shelby town
- Yates town
- Albion village
- Holley village
- Lyndonville village
- Medina village
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Niagara County · ≈28 miD54—
- Monroe County · ≈28 miC43—
- Genesee County · ≈35 miD64—
- Wyoming County · ≈55 miB40—
- Livingston County · ≈58 miB38—
- Erie County · ≈59 miB35—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Orleans County ranks #8 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.