Columbia County
Columbia County, Oregon: 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 | 52,958 |
| Solar ordinance | Active, restrictive solar ordinance |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Columbia 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.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Columbia County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Clatskanie city
- Columbia City city
- Prescott city
- Rainier city
- Scappoose city
- St. Helens city
- Vernonia city
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Cowlitz County, WA · ≈26 miB40—
- Washington County · ≈27 miC46—
- Wahkiakum County, WA · ≈29 miD58—
- Clatsop County · ≈30 miB41—
- Clark County, WA · ≈31 miB32—
- Multnomah County · ≈42 miB36—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Columbia County ranks #1 of 36 ranked Oregon counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Oregon: Deschutes County (B · 36), Lincoln County (B · 36), Tillamook 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.