Shelby County
Shelby County, Tennessee: solar permitting grade F (score 70/100, Very High Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | F · Very High Risk · Score 70/100 |
| Population | 929,744 |
| Solar ordinance | Ordinance status documented in detail |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-09-25 |
Developer outlook
Shelby County is very high risk for utility-scale solar permitting. Significant regulatory barriers are on record, and approval is not likely without substantial process investment. Tennessee's state policy environment adds headwinds — the absence of a strong RPS framework means county-level resistance faces less counterbalancing pressure. 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 Shelby County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Bartlett city
- Germantown city
- Lakeland city
- Memphis city
- Millington city
- Arlington town
- Collierville town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- DeSoto County, MS · ≈22 miB41—
- Tipton County · ≈23 miB38—
- Crittenden County, AR · ≈24 miC51—
- Fayette County · ≈27 miC46—
- Marshall County, MS · ≈36 miC45—
- Tate County, MS · ≈37 miB40—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Shelby County ranks #95 of 95 ranked Tennessee counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Tennessee: Hardin County (A · 27), Lawrence County (A · 29), Crockett County (B · 30). See all Tennessee 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 2026-09-25. Scores update on a quarterly review cycle.