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Des Moines County imposes one-year moratorium on data-center permit applications
Summary
The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors voted May 19 to impose a one-year moratorium on accepting or approving permit applications for data centers — including crypto-mining operations — while staff drafts local regulations and coordinates with partner agencies.
Des Moines County supervisors voted May 19 to adopt Resolution 2026-034, imposing a one-year moratorium on accepting or approving permit applications for data centers while the county gathers information and drafts regulations.
The resolution, read into the record by the chair, defines a data center as “a facility consisting of one or more buildings … used primarily for the storage, management, processing, and transmission of digital data” and explicitly includes commercial crypto-mining operations. The board moved and adopted the moratorium during the meeting; the measure takes effect immediately to allow staff time to coordinate with other agencies and review zoning and procedural options.
Supporters on the dais said the pause will give staff time to review model ordinances used by peer counties and to draft rules tailored to local infrastructure, natural resources and property-rights concerns. Planning staff told supervisors they have reviewed recent ordinances such as Linn County’s as part of that research.
Members of the public and local labor representatives offered mixed views. Brian Tee, a resident who spoke during public input, said, “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.”
Ryan Drew of the building trades urged caution about preventing economic opportunity: “I would separate crypto mining from data centers,” he said, arguing the county should consider whether small and large facilities should be treated differently and noting potential local tax and employment benefits.
Supervisors said the one-year window is intended to prevent repeated short extensions while giving the board time to consider ordinance language and input from counties that have recently drafted rules. The board directed staff to research examples, coordinate stakeholder input and return with proposed language and a timeline for ordinance development.
Action at the meeting: The board adopted Resolution 2026-034 imposing a moratorium on data-center permitting. The resolution’s full text was read into the record and posted with meeting materials. The board indicated it will pursue an incremental work plan that includes reviewing peer ordinances and holding work sessions; no immediate zoning text was adopted at the meeting.
