Nothing reported in Unincorporated Ida County yet
Who decides here: the Ida County Board of Supervisors decides on zoning for land outside city and town limits.
Local votes and rules
📜 Data center rules
Ida County shared a 16-page draft data center ordinance. Data centers would need a special rezoning plus a permit, with a 20-megawatt size cap. It bans evaporative cooling and using groundwater for cooling, and requires a deal so homes and farms don't pay for the power upgrades. Workshops were held September 9 and 21.
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
Supervisors voted unanimously in June 2026 to pause data center projects while they gather information. The pause ends when the county adopts a data center ordinance.
What you can do
- Get told first.
We'll email you if anything changes in Unincorporated Ida County. - Go to county meetings.
Anyone can speak. Big projects usually need a public hearing. - Ask questions in writing.
Use our checklist.
🔔 Get told first
⚡ Your electric company
Depending on where you live in Unincorporated Ida County: Midamerican Energy Co. (company) or North West Rural Electric Co-op (co-op (owned by its members)).
Big data centers need a lot of power. Who pays for new power lines depends on state rules. See the rules in Iowa.