Elk County
Elk County, Pennsylvania: solar permitting grade C (score 49/100, Elevated Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | C · Elevated Risk · Score 49/100 |
| Population | 29,910 |
| Solar ordinance | Active solar ordinance on the books |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Elk County carries elevated permitting risk. Developers should budget additional time for ordinance review, public hearing preparation, and community engagement.
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: McKean County (≈27 mi) · Jefferson County (≈27 mi) · Clearfield County (≈31 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
In Pennsylvania, townships hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Elk County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- St. Marys city
- Johnsonburg borough
- Ridgway borough
- Benezette township
- Fox township
- Highland township
- Horton township
- Jay township
- Jones township
- Millstone township
- Ridgway township
- Spring Creek township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Cameron County · ≈24 miC50—
- McKean County · ≈27 miD61—
- Jefferson County · ≈27 miB40—
- Clearfield County · ≈31 miF71—
- Forest County · ≈31 miD52—
- Clarion County · ≈43 miC49—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Elk County ranks #39 of 67 ranked Pennsylvania counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Pennsylvania: Montgomery County (B · 33), Monroe County (B · 35), Perry County (B · 36). See all Pennsylvania 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.