What Is Iron County Voting On? Quick Answer
The Iron County Commission will hold a public hearing and consider action on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 10 a.m. in the Commission Chambers at the Iron County Courthouse, 68 S. 100 E., Parowan. The proposal would repeal Chapter 17.37 of the zoning ordinance, now titled "Data Centers," and replace it with a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) Overlay. It would also amend the solar power plant rules (Chapter 17.33), the use definitions (Chapter 17.20) and the Table of Uses (Section 17.16).
Nothing has been adopted yet. The hearing notice says the commission will "consider action," so a vote could happen October 26, but the commission could also change or delay the proposal.
This article is based on the draft in the county's October 8 Planning Commission packet. The version voted on October 26 may differ.
How Iron County Got Here
On May 26, 2026, the County Commission adopted Ordinance 2026-13, a 180-day moratorium on accepting or processing applications for data centers, data center power plants and solar power plants. County Planner Brett Hamilton's staff report says the SDZ ordinance came out of that review and "was not drafted in response to any single project or applicant."
The Planning Commission held a hearing on October 8 in Cedar City. Staff recommended approval. The County Commission held a hearing October 12, with "no action" taken, per its agenda.
Which Projects Would Need SDZ Approval
Under draft Section 17.37.025, a project goes through the SDZ process if it reaches any of these thresholds:
| Project type | SDZ threshold |
|---|---|
| Data center | 50 megawatts or more of anticipated IT load |
| Power plant, including solar or geothermal | More than 50 MW of nameplate capacity |
| Battery energy storage system | 100 MW or more of discharge capacity |
| Industrial campus | 150 acres or more |
Related parcels, phases and facilities count together. Data centers under 50 MW would still be conditional uses in the A-20, LI and I zones. They would also have to meet the SDZ standards for noise, lighting, screening, hazardous materials and water.
Where an SDZ Could Go
- Zones: only land zoned A-20 (Agriculture 20 Acre), LI (Light Industrial) or I (Industrial). The underlying zoning stays in place.
- Distance from homes: the SDZ boundary must be at least one-half mile from any protected residential use. Homes of people taking part in the project do not count. A neighbor may voluntarily record a "Nuisance Impact Easement" to shorten that distance, but never below one-quarter mile.
- Other criteria: nearby infrastructure, a legal water supply, and plans for environmental and agricultural impacts.
How the Process Would Work
- Public outreach first. Before applying, the developer must carry out a county-approved outreach plan. Meetings must be advertised on the county website and the Utah Public Notice Website.
- Pre-application meeting with county staff.
- Application and Development Agreement, submitted together. The application must include technical studies on water, traffic, air quality, noise, heat, cultural and tribal resources and more. Studies are done by a professional the county selects or approves who has no ties to the applicant.
- Planning Commission public hearing and recommendation.
- County Commission public hearing and a decision the draft calls "a legislative land use decision."
A developer cannot require county officials to sign a nondisclosure agreement, and the applicant pays the county's reasonable review costs.
Key Standards in the Draft
- Water: the draft sets a threshold of 50,000 gallons per day (56 acre-feet a year) for the whole project. Using more requires approval of an alternative standard backed by existing, actively used water rights and a measurable improvement to groundwater. Data centers must use closed-loop or dry cooling unless the applicant shows an alternative is at least as water-efficient. Once-through cooling is prohibited, and water use must be metered and posted publicly at least weekly.
- Noise: limits are 55 dBA and 65 dBC at a neighboring residential lot line, 50 dBA and 60 dBC at a home between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., and 65 dBA and 70 dBC at the project perimeter.
- Lighting: fixtures must be fully shielded with a color temperature of 2,700 Kelvin or less, and non-security lights must be motion-activated.
- Coolant: propylene glycol must be used instead of ethylene glycol.
- Decommissioning: security worth at least 110% of an engineer's estimate, reviewed every five years. Parent-company guarantees do not count.
Changes to the Solar Rules
Under the redlined Chapter 17.33, solar plants under 50 MW would still go through a conditional use permit, while those of 50 MW or more would go through the SDZ. Section 17.37.025 phrases the cutoff as "greater than 50 megawatts." A solar permit would expire after three years unless a building permit is active. Previously approved permits stay valid.
How to Comment
Questions or comments go to the Iron County Planner at (435) 865-5386 or [email protected]. Written comments can be mailed to the Iron County Building & Zoning Department, 82 N. 100 E., Suite 102, Cedar City, UT 84720.
Voting this fall? See our Iron County voting guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Iron County vote on the data center ordinance on Oct. 26?
It may. The notice says the commission will hold a public hearing and consider action at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, in Parowan. No decision has been made.
What is a Strategic Development Zone Overlay?
An overlay that sits on top of existing A-20, LI or I zoning. Large projects would need legislative approval by the County Commission, along with a Development Agreement.
Which data centers would be affected?
Data centers with 50 MW or more of anticipated IT load would need SDZ approval. Smaller ones would remain conditional uses but must meet several SDZ standards.
How far from homes would large projects have to be?
At least one-half mile from the SDZ boundary. A neighbor can voluntarily agree to reduce it, but never below one-quarter mile.
Sources
- Iron County: Public hearing notice, County Commission, Oct. 26, 2026 (PDF)
- Utah Public Notice Website: Iron County Commission meeting agenda, Oct. 12, 2026
- Iron County: Draft zoning ordinance amendments, Oct. 8, 2026 (PDF)
- Iron County: Planning Commission packet and staff report, Oct. 8, 2026 (PDF)
- Iron County: Ordinance 2026-13, temporary land use regulation (PDF)
- Iron County: Proposed Data Center Information page
Published October 21, 2026. We will update this page after the October 26 meeting.
