Palo, IA — Ordinance No. 93-2026 Creating the EU-1 Data Center Exclusive Use District

Ordinance No. 93-2026 adds Section 165.16A to the Palo zoning code, creating the EU-1 Data Center Exclusive Use District in which data centers are the permitted principal use. A data center must be rezoned to EU-1 unless already located there, and must submit a major site plan for review before approval. Before the first building permit the applicant must supply electric line and access-road locations, written verification from the power provider that the proposed load can be served, a full-cutoff lighting plan, an approved Road Use Agreement, a pre-construction noise analysis, an emergency response plan coordinated with local first responders and Linn County Emergency Management, and a drought and water-supply section permitting surface-water and groundwater monitoring wells with water-level emergency triggers. This is a permissive zoning framework with conditions attached, not a moratorium.

Technical detail

Amends Chapter 165 (Zoning Regulations) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Palo, Iowa. Adds definitions of 'data center' and 'places of public assembly' to Section 165.02. Permitted accessory uses in EU-1 include battery energy storage systems, on-site solar and other renewable generation, standby/backup generation, electrical substations and switchyards, district energy or microgrid infrastructure, water treatment and recycling, and incidental office and maintenance facilities. Readings: first 2026-06-01, second 2026-07-13, third and final 2026-07-20. Certified published 2026-07-22; the effective clause reads 'in effect after its final passage, approval and publication as provided by law'.

Who is protected: Residents of Palo and neighbouring property owners, via siting controls, noise limits, lighting standards, road-use obligations, emergency planning and groundwater/surface-water monitoring with water-level emergency triggers.

Who must comply: Any applicant, property owner or developer seeking to establish or expand a data center within the City of Palo, plus City review bodies administering the EU-1 district.

Key facts

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