Paces’ Permitting Predictor helps you quickly understand zoning and permitting conditions that could affect your solar, and to a lesser degree, wind and battery projects.
You can access Permitting details two different ways:
Map Layers: Best for portfolio or parcel-level analysis (seeing permitting data directly where your sites are).
Navigation Bar (Permitting Predictor): Best for broad research and comparison by county or AHJ.
Accessing Permitting on the Map
Follow these to analyze your portfolio and perform parcel-level analysis on solar permitting for your projects or preferred AHJs/counties:
Adjust the Map Style (optional)
In the top left corner of the map, change the style to Light Mode for clearer visibility of permitting layers.
Open the Map
From the main navigation, select Map.
Turn on Layers, including Solar Permitting Layers
In the left-hand sidebar, scroll to the Map Layers section.
Under Solar Permitting, toggle on the layers you’d like to see (ex: Allowed Zones, Forbidden Zones, Moratoriums).
Ensure Parcel Outlines are On
Turn on parcel outlines to see how permitting data intersects with your parcels.
(Optional) View by Sites
Go to Our Sites in the top navigation.
Select a list of sites and click the Map View button (upper right).
From here, turn on the permitting layers to see how your projects overlap with different permitting zones.
Explore Layer Details
Click on a permitting layer for more information.
You’ll be able to link directly to the relevant zoning code, map, or permitting documentation.
💡 Pro tip: If a project falls in a forbidden zone or moratorium, you can update its Notes & Ratings in Our Sites to reflect development risks.
Accessing Permitting Predictor in List View
Follow these steps if you want to perform broad research and comparison by county or AHJ:
Select Permitting Predictor
In the main navigation bar, select Permitting Predictor.
Choose Your State(s)
Select one or multiple states to view permitting data.
Apply Filters
Select the gear ⚙️ icon to the right of these filters to customize the table by adjusting column order and visibility.
View County or AHJ Data
Browse permitting information at the county or AHJ level, including:
Solar, wind, and battery moratoriums
Permitting documentation
Solar, battery, and wind setbacks
Whether solar use is regulated
Zoning authority and definitions
Drill into Documentation
Many items are clickable (ex: solar limits, wind definitions, permitting docs).
Click to open direct references in the zoning code.
Check Zoning Percentages
See what percentage of zoning is explicitly permitted, special use, or unknown to guide site decisions.
Click the “👁️🗨️” icon next to a county or AHJ to open the Community Detail page for additional sentiment and zoning insights.
Rate and Add Notes
If you find favorable counties or AHJs, add a rating (up to 5 stars) and notes to support your work.
Methodology
Learn about the Permitting Predictor collection methodology in this article.
Missing Information?
If you notice missing permitting data, contact our Support team using the chat box or by emailing support@paces.com.