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Regbase

The Data Center Divide

Dubuque County

This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.

Neutral Data Center Policies

Dubuque County pauses new data centers and related expansions in unincorporated areas through May 26, 2027, blocking county approvals during that time; ending the pause early requires comprehensive county rules.

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

Specific to Dubuque County only.

current law · Unincorporated areas
Prohibits Dubuque County from processing or approving new data centers and related infrastructure in unincorporated areas through May 26, 2027, unless the moratorium ends earlier or is extended.Dubuque County Resolution 26-[number] Data Center Moratorium (2026)

What this means

The measure pauses new data centers and related expansions in unincorporated Dubuque County, and blocks county approvals for covered projects during the pause (no discretionary approval). It is temporary—through May 26, 2027—but lifting it early requires the county to adopt comprehensive data-center rules, so it creates a major near-term barrier (through May 26, 2027).

Timing

Ends
May 26, 2027

The moratorium remains in effect through 2027-05-26 unless earlier terminated or lawfully extended. It may be extended by subsequent resolution if required studies, ordinance, public process, or planning activities remain incomplete, or additional time is necessary to protect public health, safety, welfare, or orderly development. Expiration alone does not authorize covered data-center approvals.

People behind it

  • Adopted and administers the moratorium, including overseeing required planning deliverables and any extension or termination.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements7

  • A moratorium bars new Small, Medium, Large-Scale, and Hyperscale Data Centers, along with supporting infrastructure, in unincorporated Dubuque County. The covered categories range from facilities under 1 MW to facilities of 50 MW or more. The moratorium applies to all new facilities and supporting infrastructure

  • The restriction covers utility, water, wastewater, cooling, campus, phased, expansion, speculative, annexation, development-agreement, and other improvements intended to support construction or operation of a covered Data Center. Covered activities include utility, water, wastewater, cooling, campus, phased, expansion

  • During the moratorium, the County and its departments, boards, commissions, officials, employees, and agents may not accept, process, review, approve, issue, or otherwise authorize discretionary approvals for a covered Data Center project or its supporting infrastructure. Neither Dubuque County nor any County department may accept, process, review, approve, issue, or authorize

  • The moratorium runs from May 26, 2026, through May 26, 2027, unless terminated earlier or extended by a later resolution. Remains in effect through May 26, 2027

  • The moratorium cannot be ended early merely by expiration or informal action. Early termination requires a Board resolution after a duly noticed public hearing, completion of required studies and planning, adoption of a comprehensive Data Center ordinance and related standards, completion of public participation requirements, and written findings that specified public, environmental, infrastructure, agricultural, and taxpayer protections are adequate. The moratorium may be terminated only upon adoption of a Resolution

  • Expiration of the one-year term does not itself authorize an application, permit, zoning approval, development agreement, or other authorization for a covered Data Center or supporting infrastructure. Expiration of the one-year term shall not, by itself, authorize any application

  • Routine information-technology infrastructure serving local businesses, government facilities, educational institutions, healthcare providers, telecommunications facilities, and utility operations is exempt only when it is not designed or expanded primarily to support a Data Center covered by the moratorium. Exemptions are limited to routine information technology infrastructure

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions1

  • The moratorium applies only to unincorporated areas of Dubuque County, so data center projects in incorporated areas are not subject to this particular county moratorium.

Sources

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