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Regbase

The Data Center Divide

Cedar County

Neutral Data Center Policies

Iowa offers qualifying data centers tax exemptions and refunds, including for leased facilities, but requires eligibility standards and annual reporting; some electricity and backup-fuel tax breaks expire after 10 or 15 years. Data centers are excluded from two incentive programs, while sustainable-design standards apply only to facilities seeking that approval.

Rating and summary from Iowa statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Cedar County.

Specific to Cedar County only.

current law · County measure
Considers a data center moratorium and zoning ordinance, but these documents do not show that either was adopted.Cedar County Data Center Moratorium (2026)

Timing

The sources identify a Data Center Moratorium and a related draft ordinance, but do not state an expiration date, ending condition, or extension provision.

People behind it

  • Created and revised the data center ordinance, with the revisions reflected in draft #5.

  • Moved to approve the Planning & Zoning Commission's changes to the data center ordinance.

  • Seconded the motion to approve the changes to the data center ordinance.

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  • Zoning Administrator who announced that the data center ordinance would be available for public review.

Sources

Specific to Cedar County only.

pending · Unincorporated areas
Would regulate the placement of data centers in Cedar County’s unincorporated areas; the document describes a proposed ordinance, not an enacted law.Cedar County Ordinance Regulating the Placement of Data Centers on Property Located in the Unincorporated Areas of Cedar County, Iowa (2026)

People behind it

  • Developed and revised the data-center ordinance, including Data Center ordinance draft #5.

  • Announced that the proposed ordinance would be available for public review before the hearing.

  • Proposed investigating whether the ordinance could require data centers to have a sovereign utilities system.

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  • Was directed to consult the county attorney about adding the sovereign-utilities provision to the ordinance.

  • Moved to approve the zoning commission's changes to the ordinance draft.

  • Moved to approve ordinance draft #5, subject to investigation of the sovereign-utilities issue.

Sources

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