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Iron County imposes 180-day pause on processing new data center and large solar applications
Summary
The Iron County Commission adopted a temporary land-use regulation halting processing of incomplete applications for data centers, data-center power plants and large solar power plants for up to 180 days to allow staff and the planning commission to draft stricter zoning standards and protections for water, visual impacts and infrastructure capacity.
Iron County commissioners on May 25 adopted ordinance 2026-13, a temporary 180-day land-use regulation that pauses processing of incomplete applications for data centers, data-center power plants and large solar power plants.
Planning staff told the commission the pause — permitted under state law for up to 180 days — is intended to give county planners time to revise rules governing chapters 17.33 (solar power plants) and 17.37 (data centers and data-center power plants). Brett Hower, planning staff, said the county has already processed one data-center application and that the growth and scale of proposals now under consideration require new tools such as overlay zones, targeted districts and stronger standards for setbacks, noise, visual buffers and infrastructure impacts.
“From processing that application there’s been a lot that we’ve learned,” Hower said, describing cases in other jurisdictions and large projects that can reach thousands of acres. The ordinance allows fully completed applications already moving through the process to continue; applications judged incomplete at filing would be paused until the county adopts updated standards.
Residents who spoke during the public comment period urged the pause and asked the county to study water consumption, potential contamination risks and cumulative impacts of multiple facilities. “Utah was just declared in an emergency drought,” said public commenter Savannah Walker, urging caution on water use. Other speakers warned about so-called forever chemicals in cooling systems, cumulative demand on aquifers and whether promised community benefits could shift long-term costs to taxpayers.
Supporters said the county’s experience in grant writing and a well-structured ordinance could yield benefits if projects meet local standards. “If they’re appropriate for Iron County, we need to make sure that we’re not rushing into anything,” Commissioner Blake said during discussion.
The motion to adopt the ordinance was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The ordinance will be in effect up to 180 days; staff told commissioners the window can be used to consult the planning commission, other jurisdictions and state guidance and, if necessary, seek authorized extensions under state statute. County staff said they will return with proposed ordinance language and implementation steps for public hearings and planning-commission review.
