Sawyer County
Sawyer County, Wisconsin: solar permitting grade B (score 32/100, 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 32/100 |
| Population | 16,733 |
| 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
Sawyer 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
- 2024-01-19SolarCounty encourages protection of groundwater resources and preservation of wetlands. · agenda
Cities, towns & townships
In Wisconsin, towns hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Sawyer County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Hayward city
- Bass Lake town
- Couderay town
- Draper town
- Edgewater town
- Hayward town
- Hunter town
- Lenroot town
- Meadowbrook town
- Meteor town
- Ojibwa town
- Radisson town
- Round Lake town
- Sand Lake town
- Spider Lake town
- Weirgor town
- Winter town
- Couderay village
- Exeland village
- Radisson village
- Winter village
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Rusk County · ≈27 miB33—
- Washburn County · ≈31 miB40—
- Price County · ≈40 miB34—
- Barron County · ≈45 miC46—
- Ashland County · ≈52 miB39—
- Iron County · ≈53 miB32—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Sawyer County ranks #3 of 72 ranked Wisconsin counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Wisconsin: Sauk County (B · 31), Crawford County (B · 32), Iron 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.