Jones County, Iowa wind ordinance
Wind: 1,600 ft (Large WECS) from property lines, 1,600 ft (Large WECS) from homes, 660 ft (Large WECS) from roads. Every figure is quoted from the county's ordinance, read September 30, 2026.
Updated September 2026
Wind rules
9 figures read from the county's ordinance, each with the sentence it comes from.
| Rule and what the ordinance says | Requirement |
|---|---|
Property line setbackLarge WECSProperty lines | 1000 | 1600 | 1,600 ft |
Setback from homesLarge WECSOccupied Residence | 1000 | 1600 | 1,600 ft |
Road setbackLarge WECSRight - of - Way | 200 | 660 | 660 ft |
Setback from occupied non-residential structureLarge WECSOccupied Non - Residential Structure | 1000 | 1600 | 1,600 ft |
Setback from confined animal feeding operation (CAFO)Large WECSConfined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) | 200 | 660 | 660 ft |
Setback from public areasLarge WECSPublic Areas | 1000 | 1600 | 1,600 ft |
Setback from cemeteriesLarge WECSCemeteries | 1000 | 1600 | 1,600 ft |
Setback from political boundariesLarge WECSPolitical Boundaries | 1000 | 5280 | 5,280 ft |
Setback from overhead utility linesLarge WECSOverhead Utility Lines | 200 | 660 | 660 ft |
Source: Jones County ordinance (PDF), read September 30, 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 Jones 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
What are the wind turbine setbacks in Jones County, IA?
The county's ordinance sets wind turbines back 1,600 ft (Large WECS) from property lines, 1,600 ft (Large WECS) from homes and 660 ft (Large WECS) from roads. Check the cited section with the county before relying on a figure.