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Des Moines County approves one-year moratorium on data center permit applications
Summary
On May 19, 2026 the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors approved a one-year moratorium on accepting or approving data-center permit applications so staff can draft local regulations and coordinate with partner agencies; the moratorium defines data centers broadly to include crypto‑mining operations.
Des Moines County’s Board of Supervisors voted May 19 to impose an immediate one‑year moratorium on accepting or approving permit applications for data centers while staff drafts ordinances and policies governing such facilities.
Chair (S1) read the resolution (Resolution 2026‑034) into the record, saying the pause will give the board "substantial time to gather information and coordinate with multiple agencies for the purpose of reviewing, updating, or creating ordinances, policies, and procedures related to data center development." The resolution defines a data center broadly to include facilities used for storage, processing and transmission of digital data and expressly includes crypto‑mining operations.
Supporters said the moratorium is a temporary measure to allow the county to set local standards. A member of the public, Brian Tee, told the board: "I appreciate the board doing the moratorium to give the county some time to figure out what is best for the county going forward without people taking advantage of us." (Brian Tee, public commenter).
Supervisor remarks during debate emphasized both caution and opportunity. One supervisor noted Des Moines County is "an unlikely site for a very big data center" because trunk fiber lines run elsewhere in the state, but staff and other supervisors said smaller facilities could still locate locally and warrant rules. Planning staff said they will review ordinances from peer counties (including recently developed Linn County rules) and combine existing examples with draft language now in circulation to produce recommended local regulations.
The board approved the moratorium by motion and second; members present recorded affirmative votes. The moratorium is effective immediately and staff said they will return with a proposed process and draft ordinance during the pause.
