Deschutes County
Deschutes County, Oregon: solar permitting grade B (score 36/100, 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 36/100 |
| Population | 204,390 |
| Solar ordinance | Ordinance status documented in detail |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Improving (ordinance direction easing) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Deschutes 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
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Deschutes County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Bend city
- La Pine city
- Redmond city
- Sisters city
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Crook County · ≈46 miD57—
- Jefferson County · ≈50 miD61—
- Linn County · ≈77 miC44—
- Wheeler County · ≈82 miC46—
- Lane County · ≈83 miB40—
- Wasco County · ≈86 miD57—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Deschutes County ranks #2 of 36 ranked Oregon counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Oregon: Columbia County (B · 33), 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.