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Regbase

The Data Center Divide

Ida County

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

Neutral Data Center Policies

Ida County has enacted an indefinite moratorium on data-center special-exception permit applications in unincorporated areas, potentially blocking or delaying projects needing them, though the description says it does not ban every route to building or operating a center.

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

Specific to Ida County only.

current law · Unincorporated area
Pauses special-exception permit applications for data centers in unincorporated Ida County indefinitely while the county develops zoning rules.Ida County Data Center Moratorium (2026)

What this means

If enacted, this would impose a moratorium effective immediately and indefinitely on special-exception permit applications for data centers in unincorporated Ida County. That could block or seriously delay projects needing those permits, though the measure does not expressly ban every way of building or operating a data center.

Timing

The resolution imposes a moratorium effective immediately and indefinitely on data processing center special exception permit applications.

People behind it

  • Introduced the motion to approve Resolution 26-30 imposing the moratorium.

  • Seconded the motion to approve Resolution 26-30.

  • Adopted and imposed the moratorium on data processing center special exception permit applications.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1

  • Ida County imposes an immediate, indefinite moratorium on data processing center special-exception permit applications in the unincorporated area while it drafts and adopts zoning regulations for data centers. effective immediately and indefinitely

Sources

Specific to Ida County only.

pending · County measure: County zoning proposal; related moratorium addresses the unincorporated area. Final ordinance coverage is not verified.
Indefinitely pauses data-center special-exception permit applications in unincorporated Ida County while the county develops zoning rules.Ida County Draft Data Center Ordinance (2026)

What this means

Proposal-only analytical rating: strongly disfavored rezoning and a 20-megawatt cap would materially restrict development, while a case-by-case conditional-use route would remain possible. Adoption is unverified; the separately adopted moratorium must not be conflated with this draft.

People behind it

  • Identified as Ida County Supervisor District 3; discusses ordinance development in the report.

  • Board member present with Devlun Whiteing at the October 13 meeting; individual authorship or sponsorship is not established.

  • Board member absent from the October 13 meeting; individual authorship or sponsorship is not established.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements7

  • Proposed only: discretionary rezoning would be strongly disfavored, and capacity subject to a 20-megawatt cap.

  • Proposed only: 200-foot minimum property-line setbacks and an additional 1,000-foot buffer, plus a rebuttable presumption against approval on qualifying farmland.

  • Proposed only: evaporative and groundwater cooling prohibited; closed-loop air cooling required, with an applicant-funded hydrogeologic and water-balance study.

  • Proposed only: 55 dBA daytime and 50-decibel nighttime noise limits.

  • Proposed only: power-supply and cost-allocation agreement preventing customer cost-shifting, additional road-use and community-benefit agreements, and reclamation assurance of 125% of estimated cost.

  • Proposed only: civil penalties of at least $5,000 per day per violation.

  • Separate adopted measure, not this draft: Resolution 26-30 imposes an immediate, indefinite moratorium on covered special-exception permit applications.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions2

  • Proposed limited permitting route through an Exclusive Use District, with case-by-case conditional-use approval. This is not an enacted entitlement.

  • The reported future adoption vote would lift the moratorium; adoption and lifting remain unverified.

Sources

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