Marshalltown IA 4-month data center moratorium
Marshalltown, IA — City Council Enacts 4-Month Moratorium on Data Center Construction (Effective August 28, 2026; Expires November 23, 2026)
Marshalltown, IA · City of Marshalltown, IA, 4-Month Data Center Construction Moratorium (all readings passed; legally effective August 28, 2026; expires November 23, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Expires
- November 23, 2026
- Applies to
- Data center developers seeking construction permits or other land-use approvals within Marshalltown city limits
- Enforced by
- City of Marshalltown, IA; City Council
The Marshalltown, Iowa City Council enacted a four-month moratorium on data center construction within city limits after a months-long deliberation. The council initially voted the moratorium down in June 2026, then reversed course on July 13, 2026. After all three required ordinance readings were completed by late August, the moratorium legally took effect August 28, 2026 and expires November 23, 2026. A 60-day extension provision is available if the council needs more time. Marshalltown has no data-center-specific zoning regulations; data centers currently fall under the 'major utilities' land-use category. Marshalltown is the county seat of Marshall County in central Iowa.
Who is protected: Marshalltown, IA residents from unchecked data center construction pending zoning regulation
Legal detail
City of Marshalltown, IA ordinance — 4-month moratorium on data center construction within city limits. Iowa Code requires three readings of an ordinance (with waiver of readings requiring 3/4 supermajority; the 4th-vote threshold was not met). Procedural timeline: June 2026 — council votes down moratorium; July 13, 2026 — council reverses course, approves first reading of 4-month moratorium; August 12, 2026 — council votes 6-1 for reading(s); subsequent August meeting — second and third readings passed; legal effective date August 28, 2026 (after required newspaper publication); expires November 23, 2026 (4 months from July 13 adoption date). 60-day extension available by council action. Current zoning gap: data centers treated as 'major utilities' under Marshalltown code — no dedicated zoning district. Moratorium gives city time to develop data-center-specific regulations. Note: Marshall County (county containing Marshalltown) Zoning Commission separately recommended a 6-month county moratorium — going to Board of Supervisors; not yet adopted.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Marshalltown, IA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | August 25, 2026 |
| Citation | City of Marshalltown, IA, 4-Month Data Center Construction Moratorium (all readings passed; legally effective August 28, 2026; expires November 23, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | City council passes second and third readings of data center moratorium, hears from prospective developer — Times Republican (Marshalltown) |
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
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