Iowa case law supports the idea of a temporary pause as a planning bridge, not the final policy or permanent ban.

Hold the status quo while the community determines whether existing rules are adequate. Gather facts, involve affected stakeholders, coordinate agencies and identify regulatory gaps.

The Iowa Supreme Court recognized interim development controls as useful for preserving the status quo while a local government performs its planning function and develops permanent regulations.

Translate the planning work into permanent standards, procedures and decision criteria.

A county may respond to a proposed large-scale land use by adopting a temporary moratorium and new rules when no adequate regulatory framework exists; awareness of the project alone is not bad faith.

A moratorium is the bridge between realizing the rules are not ready and adopting the rules the community actually needs.

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