Ida County shares first draft of data center ordinance
Ida County, Iowa, has released the first draft of a new ordinance to regulate data centers, following a temporary moratorium enacted in June. The proposed ordinance includes strict rules on zoning, water usage, noise levels, and protection of high-quality farmland. Public input and several readings are planned before the ordinance is adopted and the moratorium is lifted.
Ida County, Iowa, has released the first draft of its comprehensive data center ordinance, which aims to control the development and operation of data centers within the county. This draft follows a temporary moratorium on data centers that the county enacted in June of this year, providing time to establish specific zoning and regulatory guidelines.
Reported by Taylor Decker of KTIV, the 16-page draft is considered a starting point by the County Board, who hope to tailor it to Ida County's specific needs. Key provisions include a county-wide ban on data centers except through special re-zoning into a new 'Exclusive Use District,' where they would still require a case-by-case conditional use permit. To protect farmland, the ordinance bans data centers on high-quality cropland with a 'corn suitability rating' of 65 or higher. Developers granted an exception would be required to contribute to a farmland preservation fund.
Water use is strictly regulated, with no evaporative cooling allowed and a complete ban on drawing groundwater, including from the Dakota Aquifer, for cooling. Facilities must use closed-loop air cooling, and during droughts, they could be forced to reduce operations or shut down. The ordinance also outlines strict noise limits, capping standard data center noise at 55 decibels during the day and 50 decibels at night, comparable to average room noise. Additionally, a possible 1,000-foot buffer from homes, schools, and churches is proposed.
Before adoption, the final draft will go to Planning and Zoning for approval, followed by three public readings before the Board, each open for public input. A majority vote will be required to adopt the ordinance and simultaneously lift the moratorium. The ordinance even includes standards for cryptocurrency mining facilities, though there are currently no active operations in the county. The Board has also approved hiring a specialized attorney experienced with data center regulations.