Pierce County
Pierce County, Wisconsin: 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 | 42,699 |
| 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
Pierce 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 Wisconsin, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Pierce County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Prescott city
- River Falls city
- Clifton town
- Diamond Bluff town
- El Paso town
- Ellsworth town
- Gilman town
- Hartland town
- Isabelle town
- Maiden Rock town
- Martell town
- Oak Grove town
- River Falls town
- Rock Elm town
- Salem town
- Spring Lake town
- Trenton town
- Trimbelle town
- Union town
- Bay City village
- Ellsworth village
- Elmwood village
- Maiden Rock village
- Plum City village
Show all
- Spring Valley village
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Saint Croix County · ≈21 miD58—
- Goodhue County, MN · ≈26 miC44—
- Pepin County · ≈30 miB38—
- Dunn County · ≈30 miB38—
- Washington County, MN · ≈31 miB36—
- Dakota County, MN · ≈31 miB35—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Pierce County ranks #18 of 72 ranked Wisconsin counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Wisconsin: Sauk County (B · 31), Crawford County (B · 31), Vilas County (B · 31). 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.