Augusta GA data center moratorium (ended Sept 15, 2026 — permanent ordinance enacted)
Augusta-Richmond County GA — Data Center Moratorium (June–September 2026, Superseded by Permanent Ordinance Sept 15, 2026)
Augusta, GA · Augusta-Richmond County Commission vote (June 2, 2026; extended July 21, 2026; extended again August 18, 2026), data center moratorium through ~November 17, 2026
- Status
- Expired
- Expired
- September 15, 2026
- Applies to
- Data center developers seeking new permits or approvals in Augusta-Richmond County
- Enforced by
- Augusta-Richmond County Commission
The Augusta Commission voted June 2, 2026 to impose a 49-day moratorium on new data center applications, extended it twice (July 21 and August 18, 2026), and on September 15, 2026 voted 6-5 to approve a permanent data center ordinance — ending the moratorium. The ordinance restricts data centers to heavy industrial zoning, requires special exception permits with public hearings, and mandates 500-foot buffers from residential and agricultural land. The QTS campus on Gordon Highway remains exempt. See also: ga-augusta-dc-ordinance-2026 for the permanent ordinance entry.
Who is protected: Augusta-Richmond County residents near proposed data center sites
Legal detail
Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government Commission voted June 2, 2026 to impose a 49-day moratorium; extended 60 more days July 21, 2026; extended another 60 days August 18, 2026. Commission voted 6-5 on September 15, 2026 to adopt permanent data center ordinance — moratorium superseded/expired. Ordinance terms: heavy-industrial zoning requirement + special exception with public hearing + 500-ft residential/agricultural buffer. QTS Gordon Highway project exempted throughout. Permanent ordinance cross-referenced as Augusta GA permanent data center ordinance (Sept 2026).
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Augusta, GA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Enacted | June 2, 2026 |
| Citation | Augusta-Richmond County Commission vote (June 2, 2026; extended July 21, 2026; extended again August 18, 2026), data center moratorium through ~November 17, 2026 |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Augusta leaders extend moratorium on new data centers — WRDW |
More AI rules in Augusta, GA
- Augusta GA permanent data center ordinance (Sept 2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
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
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