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Regbase

The Data Center Divide

Iron County

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

Pro-Data Center Policies

Iron County allows data centers to seek conditional-use approval in certain zones, with power plants reviewed separately. A 180-day pause blocks most new or incomplete applications, but complete applications can proceed and existing centers may continue operating.

current law · Unincorporated areas
Chapter 17.37 establishes minimum requirements for the placement, construction, modification, and operation of data centers, data center power plants, and related digital infrastructure in unincorporated Iron County.Iron County Code, Chapter 17.37 — Data Centers (2025)

What this means

The measure creates a clear route for data centers to seek approval in A-20, light-industrial, and industrial zones, which could make development more feasible than leaving the use undefined. But projects still need conditional-use approval, and power plants are treated as a separate use, adding review and possible delay (zones and conditional-use approval).

People behind it

  • Identified as the applicant proposing the code amendments on data centers and road-dedication remainder parcels (Applicant: Iron County).

  • Iron County planner who prepared the draft ordinance and introduced the proposed amendments (he created a draft).

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements2

  • Data centers require a conditional use permit in A-20, Light Industrial, and Industrial zones; they are not described as permitted outright. The meeting minutes state the draft would allow them with a CUP in those zones (“allowed with a CUP”).

  • Data center power plants are treated as a separate use: the draft does not allow them in Light Industrial zones and requires a conditional use permit in Industrial and Intensive Agricultural zones (“not allowed in the Light Industrial zone”).

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions2

  • Data centers may be permitted by conditional use permit in A-20, Light Industrial, and Industrial zones, subject to permit review. The draft would allow a data center with a CUP in these zones.

  • Data-center power plants are treated as a separate use and may be permitted by conditional use permit in Industrial and Intensive Agricultural zones, but not in Light Industrial zones. Power plants are not allowed in the Light Industrial zone.

Sources

Specific to Iron County only.

current law · County measure
This ordinance temporarily prohibits Iron County from accepting or processing land-use, business-license, building-permit, conditional-use, zoning, subdivision, and related applications for data centers, data center power plants, and solar power plants for 180 days.Iron County Ordinance 2026-13 (2026)

What this means

The measure would stop the county from accepting or processing most new data-center development applications for 180 days, and would suspend applications that are not yet complete (for a period of 180 days). Applications already deemed complete could still move forward. This is a serious temporary barrier to building or expanding data centers, but it does not ban operating existing centers.

Timing

Ends
180 days following the effective date

The ordinance remains in effect for 180 days unless repealed, extended, or replaced by a subsequent ordinance. Complete applications determined complete before the effective date may continue under prior regulations.

People behind it

  • Adopted and enacted the ordinance.

  • Iron County Commission Chair who signed the ordinance on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners.

  • Iron County Clerk who attested to the ordinance.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements4

  • For 180 days after the ordinance's effective date, Iron County will not accept or process land use, business license, building permit, administrative approval, conditional use, subdivision, zone change, site plan, development agreement, or other development applications associated with uses regulated under Chapters 17.33 and 17.37, including data centers and associated power-generation infrastructure.

  • Applications submitted before the effective date but not yet determined complete are suspended for the 180-day period, and the County may not make completeness determinations or conduct technical, administrative, or substantive review during that period.

  • Applications determined complete before the effective date are exempt from the moratorium and may continue under the regulations in effect when completeness was determined.

  • The restriction takes effect immediately upon passage and publication and remains in effect for 180 days unless repealed, extended, or replaced by a later ordinance.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions1

  • Complete applications may continue under the regulations in effect when the County determined them complete, even during the 180-day moratorium.

Sources

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