Lake County
Lake County, Oregon: solar permitting grade D (score 53/100, 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 53/100 |
| Population | 7,869 |
| 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
Lake County is a high-risk jurisdiction for utility-scale solar — documented ordinance hurdles are significant and approval history is mixed or unfavorable. 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 Lake County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Paisley city
- Lakeview town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Klamath County · ≈64 miD53—
- Harney County · ≈74 miD63—
- Modoc County, CA · ≈84 miB38—
- Deschutes County · ≈88 miB36—
- Crook County · ≈95 miD57—
- Jackson County · ≈119 miC51—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Lake County ranks #28 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.