Des Moines County, Iowa solar and battery storage ordinance
Solar: 15 ft maximum height. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 29, 2026.
Updated September 2026
Solar rules
3 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Setback from structure on participating propertyapart from occupied dwelling or civic buildingThe minimum distance between any solar array within an SFES and any of the following shall be seventy-five (75) feet: a) Any structure on a participating property apart from an occupied dwelling or civic building. | 75 ft |
Setback from homes, participating owneroccupied dwelling or civic building on a participating propertyThe minimum distance between any solar array within an SFES and any of the following shall be one hundred and fifty (150) feet: a) Any occupied dwelling or civic building on a participating property. | 150 ft |
Maximum heightThe height of any solar array within an SFES shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet. | 15 ft |
Source: Des Moines County ordinance (PDF), read September 29, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
Battery storage rules
1 figure read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Setback from homesoccupied dwelling or civic building on a non-participating propertyFor a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) or other substation for energy storage on the premises of an SFES, the minimum distance between it and any of the following shall be as follows: a) Five Hundred (500) feet for any occupied dwelling or civic building on a non-participating property | 500 ft |
Source: Des Moines County ordinance (PDF), read September 29, 2026. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
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
We found Des Moines County's own ordinance and had two AI models read it separately. A figure is shown only when both read the same number and the sentence it comes from was found in the document. 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
How tall can a solar farm be in Des Moines County, IA?
The ordinance sets a maximum height of 15 ft. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.
What are the battery storage setbacks in Des Moines County, IA?
The county's ordinance sets battery storage back 500 ft (occupied dwelling or civic building on a non-participating property) from homes. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.