Humboldt County CA 45-day data center moratorium
Humboldt County, CA — Board of Supervisors Adopts 45-Day Urgency Moratorium on Most New Data Center Permit Applications, 4-1 (Oct. 6, 2026)
Humboldt County, CA · Humboldt County, CA interim data center moratorium (Oct. 6, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Applies to
- Data center applicants (>15 MW) in unincorporated Humboldt County
- Enforced by
- Humboldt County Planning and Building Department
Humboldt County, California supervisors voted 4-1 on Oct. 6, 2026 to pause new data center permit applications in unincorporated areas for an initial 45 days, which the board can extend for up to 11 more months. Smaller facilities (15 megawatts or less) that run on 100% on-site renewable power and use closed-loop water systems can still go through the normal permit process. Staff expect to write a permanent ordinance within a year.
Who is protected: Humboldt County, CA residents
Legal detail
Interim moratorium (45 days, renewable up to ~11 months, consistent with Cal. Gov. Code 65858 urgency procedure; four-fifths vote achieved) on data center permit applications for facilities above a 15 MW power consumption threshold; exemptions for facilities using 100% renewable energy or closed-loop water systems. Follows July 14, 2026 board direction to staff to draft a moratorium. Ordinance number and exact expiry not stated in the source.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Humboldt County, CA |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | October 6, 2026 |
| Citation | Humboldt County, CA interim data center moratorium (Oct. 6, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | As AI Ascends, Humboldt Seeks Control of Data Centers — Redheaded Blackbelt (Oct. 9, 2026) |
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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