Cerro Gordo County, Iowa solar, wind and battery storage ban
Cerro Gordo County has a ban in force since December 23, 2024. It covers 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).
Updated October 2026
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)
- Adopted
- December 23, 2024
- Runs to
- No end date
- Scope
- Personal or on-site use such as rooftop solar on a home is not banned
- Checked
- October 8, 2026
the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors early this afternoon approved an amendment to an ordinance that bans future large-scale industrial-grade development of wind turbines, solar energy or battery storage facilities in the rural portions of the county.
Iowa state law
State law can cap or override county rules. All Iowa rules and counties.
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
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.
How these figures were read
Moratoria and bans are checked against the adopting document. Ordinances change and many figures apply only in some cases, so check the cited section with the county before relying on one.
Common questions
Is there a solar, wind and battery storage ban in Cerro Gordo County, IA?
Cerro Gordo County has a ban in force since December 23, 2024. It covers 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). Checked against the adopting document on October 8, 2026.