McCook County
McCook County, South Dakota: solar permitting grade B (score 39/100, 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 39/100 |
| Population | 5,780 |
| 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
McCook 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 McCook County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Bridgewater city
- Canistota city
- Montrose city
- Salem city
- Spencer city
- Benton township
- Bridgewater township
- Brookfield township
- Canistota township
- Emery township
- Grant township
- Greenland township
- Jefferson township
- Montrose township
- Pearl township
- Ramsey township
- Richland township
- Salem township
- Spring Valley township
- Sun Prairie township
- Union township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Hanson County · ≈22 miC42—
- Miner County · ≈26 miC43—
- Lake County · ≈27 miB42—
- Turner County · ≈28 miC42—
- Minnehaha County · ≈28 miB40—
- Hutchinson County · ≈31 miA29—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
McCook County ranks #26 of 66 ranked South Dakota counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in South Dakota: Deuel County (A · 28), Hutchinson County (A · 29), Walworth County (A · 29). 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.