Benton County
Benton County, Oregon: solar permitting grade B (score 38/100, 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 38/100 |
| Population | 93,053 |
| Solar ordinance | Active solar ordinance on the books |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Improving (ordinance direction easing) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Benton County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. Oregon'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
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: Linn County (≈43 mi) · Marion County (≈50 mi) · Yamhill County (≈53 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Benton County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Adair Village city
- Albany city
- Corvallis city
- Monroe city
- Philomath city
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Lincoln County · ≈26 miB36—
- Polk County · ≈29 miD52—
- Linn County · ≈43 miC44—
- Lane County · ≈47 miB40—
- Marion County · ≈50 miC42—
- Yamhill County · ≈53 miD52—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Benton County ranks #6 of 36 ranked Oregon counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Oregon: Columbia County (B · 33), Deschutes County (B · 36), Lincoln County (B · 36). See all Oregon 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.