Erie County
Erie County, Pennsylvania: solar permitting grade B (score 37/100, 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 37/100 |
| Population | 269,728 |
| 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
Erie County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation.
Local intel
On file: named opposition groups
Cities, towns & townships
In Pennsylvania, townships hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Erie County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Corry city
- Erie city
- Albion borough
- Cranesville borough
- Edinboro borough
- Elgin borough
- Girard borough
- Lake City borough
- McKean borough
- Mill Village borough
- North East borough
- Platea borough
- Union City borough
- Waterford borough
- Wattsburg borough
- Wesleyville borough
- Amity township
- Concord township
- Conneaut township
- Elk Creek township
- Fairview township
- Franklin township
- Girard township
- Greene township
Show all
- Greenfield township
- Harborcreek township
- Lawrence Park township
- LeBoeuf township
- McKean township
- Millcreek township
- North East township
- Springfield township
- Summit township
- Union township
- Venango township
- Washington township
- Waterford township
- Wayne township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Crawford County · ≈30 miD52—
- Ashtabula County, OH · ≈36 miC46—
- Chautauqua County, NY · ≈38 miC44—
- Warren County · ≈44 miC49—
- Venango County · ≈53 miD57—
- Mercer County · ≈57 miC44—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Erie County ranks #7 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.