Iowa solar and wind ordinances by county
14 counties with figures quoted from their own ordinances. 4 of 8 moratoria and bans on file in force. Plus the state law that applies.
Updated October 2026
Counties
Solar figures as each county's ordinance states them. Open a county for wind and battery storage rules, conditions, and the sentence each figure comes from.
| County | Rules read | Property line | Homes | Max height | Min lot | Moratorium or ban |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | Solar | 250 ftAny non-participating parcel | 1,000 ft | n/a | n/a | None on file |
| Appanoose County | Wind | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | None on file |
| Black Hawk County | Wind | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | None on file |
| Cedar County | Solar | n/a | n/a | 20 ftappurtenant structures | n/a | None on file |
| Cerro Gordo County | None | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | Ban in force |
| Clarke County | Solar, Wind | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | None on file |
| Clinton County | Solar, Wind | n/a | 300 ft | n/a | n/a | None on file |
| Des Moines County | Solar, Battery storage | n/a | n/a | 15 ft | n/a | None on file |
| Jones County | Wind | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | None on file |
| Linn County | Solar, Battery storage | n/a | 300 ftunless owner waives | n/a | n/a | None on file |
| Marshall County | Wind | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | None on file |
| Mills County | Solar | n/a | 300 ftfrom a residence that is not a part of the SESUS area | 20 ftmaximum tilt of the solar panel | n/a | None on file |
| Shelby County | None | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | In force |
| Tama County | None | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | In force |
| Taylor County | None | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | In force |
| Warren County | Solar, Wind, Battery storage | 120 ftnon-participating properties | 120 ftabutting dwelling, occupied structure, or community building | 20 ft | n/a | None on file |
| Washington County | Wind | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | None on file |
| Winneshiek County | Solar, Wind | n/a | 200 ftresidence that is not part of the project area | 20 ft | n/a | None on file |
Every Iowa figure in one spreadsheet
114 figures from 17 counties, each with its quote, source, date read and any condition. 3 of those places are not on this site. Plus the 8 moratoria and bans on file and Iowa state law.
Moratoria and bans in Iowa
County, town and township moratoria and bans, each checked against the adopting document.
| Place | Type | Covers | Status | Runs to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerro Gordo County | Ban | Industrial and utility-scale wind, solar and battery storage prohibited on A-1 and A-2 land in unincorporated areas (Ordinance 69, replacing the 2023 moratorium) | In force | No end date | DocumentChecked October 8, 2026 |
| Shelby County | Moratorium | Commercial solar energy systems (battery storage under a parallel moratorium) | In force | July 1, 2027 | DocumentChecked September 29, 2026 |
| Tama County | Moratorium | Utility-scale solar and community solar, and wind | In force | None found | DocumentChecked September 29, 2026 |
| Taylor County | Moratorium | Temporary 12-month moratorium on new applications for data centers, solar energy systems, battery energy storage systems and mineral rights developments (Ordinance No. 40) | In force | July 30, 2027 | DocumentChecked October 7, 2026 |
| Adams County | Moratorium | Commercial solar projects | Ended May 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | DocumentChecked October 7, 2026 |
| Crawford County | Moratorium | Utility-scale solar | Ended June 23, 2026 | June 23, 2026 | DocumentChecked September 29, 2026 |
| Kossuth County | Moratorium | Large-scale or utility-scale solar | Ended March 31, 2026 | March 31, 2026 | DocumentChecked September 29, 2026 |
| Mitchell County | Moratorium | Utility-scale solar (1 MW and up) | Ended August 12, 2026 | August 12, 2026 | DocumentChecked September 29, 2026 |
Iowa state law
What state law says about local solar, wind and storage rules. Each statement links the law or official source it comes from.
State siting: Iowa Utilities Commission (formerly Iowa Utilities Board)
A plant of 25 MW or more needs a state certificate before construction.
Iowa Code 476A.1(5), 476A.2. Source
Limits on local rules
For plants of 25 MW or more, the state may issue its certificate even if the project does not meet county zoning; no limit was found for smaller projects.
Iowa Code 476A.5(3). Source
Screen sites across Iowa
Basepoint checks each parcel against these rules along with grid, land and environmental data, and keeps the source for every figure.