JULY 1, 2026

The City of Dubuque is launching a community engagement process to help guide the development of a local data center ordinance for any future centers that may be proposed within the city limits of Dubuque.

Two data center ordinance public input opportunities have been scheduled, one on Tuesday, July 21, and a second on Monday, July 27. The agenda for both events will be the same, with the two options offered to accommodate residents’ schedules. Both will be held at the Grand River Center, 500 Bell St., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and the events beginning at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend, participate in facilitated roundtable discussions, and share their input. RSVPs are appreciated for planning purposes but not required. Visit cityofdubuque.org/datacenters to RSVP.

Additionally, a survey on potential future data center development within the community will be mailed to all Dubuque residents, with delivery expected between Friday, July 10, and Friday, July 17. Residents may complete and return the survey by mail or participate online. The online survey will be available to the public at cityofdubuque.org/datacenters beginning Friday, July 10. All survey responses must be submitted by Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Survey results, along with feedback gathered at the public input sessions and through other public input opportunities, will be included with information shared with the Dubuque City Council at a public work session in August.

Based on direction from the city council, City staff would then prepare a draft ordinance for additional community input and consideration by city council at a regular council meeting.

Additionally, residents and stakeholders have multiple methods to provide input to the city council throughout the process, including emailing the entire city council directly through the “Contact Us” link at cityofdubuque.org

No formal annexation petition, site plan, request for utilities, or development agreement regarding any proposed data center in the city limits has been presented to the City of Dubuque. The intention of developing an ordinance is to propose the rules and regulations that a center would have to abide by to be considered for development in the city of Dubuque. If any project were to be proposed/submitted to the City by a developer, no action would be taken on it by city council until an ordinance is in place.