Does a server IP location determine local search rankings?
The short answer
No. Google describes server location as one possible geographic signal, not a definitive one. A local IP address does not guarantee a faster site or higher local rankings.
In more detail
An IP geolocation result is not enough to decide where to host. Google says server location can suggest an intended audience, but CDNs and hosting choices make it an imperfect signal. Use performance measurements and application requirements for the hosting decision.
For search targeting, provide useful localized content and explicit language or regional URLs. Use hreflang where appropriate, and keep local contact details and currency accurate. These make the audience clearer than relying on a server IP alone.
Google’s former Search Console country-targeting setting is no longer supported. Review language annotations and the content people actually see instead. If you change hosting, compare real page performance before and after; do not infer a ranking improvement from the new IP’s country label.