Aurora County
Aurora County, South Dakota: solar permitting grade B (score 30/100, 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 30/100 |
| Population | 2,679 |
| 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
Aurora 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
Local governments in Aurora County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Plankinton city
- White Lake city
- Stickney town
- Aurora township
- Belford township
- Bristol township
- Center township
- Cooper township
- Crystal Lake township
- Dudley township
- Eureka township
- Firesteel township
- Gales township
- Hopper township
- Lake township
- Palatine township
- Patten township
- Plankinton township
- Pleasant Lake township
- Pleasant Valley township
- Truro township
- Washington township
- White Lake township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Davison County · ≈21 miB41—
- Jerauld County · ≈24 miC43—
- Douglas County · ≈26 miB36—
- Brule County · ≈26 miB36—
- Sanborn County · ≈32 miC43—
- Charles Mix County · ≈36 miB36—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Aurora County ranks #3 of 66 ranked South Dakota counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in South Dakota: Deuel County (A · 28), Walworth County (B · 30), Oglala Lakota County (B · 32). See all South Dakota 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.