Buffalo County
Buffalo County, Wisconsin: solar permitting grade B (score 33/100, 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 33/100 |
| Population | 13,113 |
| Solar ordinance | Active, restrictive solar ordinance |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Buffalo County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation.
Local intel
On file: energy-related meetings · named opposition groups
- 2026-05-18Data CenterData Center A. Data Centers will only be allowed in an industrial zoning district as a conditional use. · agenda
- 2026-05-18Data CenterO'Connor supports the data center ordinance amendment · agenda
- 2026-05-01Data CenterData center project approved with noise level restrictions. · agenda
Cities, towns & townships
In Wisconsin, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Buffalo County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Alma city
- Buffalo City city
- Fountain City city
- Mondovi city
- Alma town
- Belvidere town
- Buffalo town
- Canton town
- Cross town
- Dover town
- Gilmanton town
- Glencoe town
- Lincoln town
- Maxville town
- Milton town
- Modena town
- Mondovi town
- Montana town
- Naples town
- Nelson town
- Waumandee town
- Cochrane village
- Nelson village
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Pepin County · ≈17 miB38—
- Trempealeau County · ≈21 miB41—
- Wabasha County, MN · ≈24 miC45—
- Winona County, MN · ≈28 miC43—
- Eau Claire County · ≈33 miB36—
- Dunn County · ≈39 miB39—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Buffalo County ranks #6 of 72 ranked Wisconsin counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Wisconsin: Sauk County (B · 31), Crawford County (B · 32), Sawyer County (B · 32). See all Wisconsin 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.