Imperial County CA second 45-day data center moratorium
Imperial County, CA — Supervisors Repeal Court-Voided Moratorium Ordinances 1616/1618 and Adopt a Second 45-Day Urgency Data Center Moratorium (Oct. 6, 2026)
Imperial County, CA · Imperial County, CA second 45-day urgency data center moratorium (Oct. 6, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- October 6, 2026
- Applies to
- Data center applicants in unincorporated Imperial County, CA (outside Mesquite Lake Specific Plan area)
- Enforced by
- Imperial County Planning and Development Services
After a judge ruled that Imperial County's first data center moratorium lacked the findings California law requires, supervisors repealed it on Oct. 6, 2026 and the same day adopted a new 45-day urgency moratorium by a 5-0 vote. The new pause bars approval of data center facilities in unincorporated Imperial County. The county cited new information on pending projects, Colorado River supply cuts and a court ruling requiring an environmental impact report for one project.
Who is protected: Residents of unincorporated Imperial County, CA
Legal detail
Imperial County (CA) BOCS, Tuesday Oct. 6, 2026: (1) urgency ordinance repealing Ord. 1616 (June 16, 2026 moratorium) and Ord. 1618 (July extension) per peremptory writ in Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, LLC v. Imperial County (Judge Jeffrey B. Jones, Sept. 4, 2026 ruling: required Gov. Code findings not made); (2) after public hearing, new 45-day interim urgency ordinance (5-0) prohibiting data center facility approvals in unincorporated county, excluding Mesquite Lake Specific Plan area. Findings cited: new information on pending/proposed facilities; Interior Dept. Colorado River delivery guidelines; court finding that an EIR was required for the Imperial Data Center project; General Plan amendments before the Data Center Advisory Committee. NOT ESTABLISHED: new ordinance number; expiry date as stated (45 days computed ~Nov. 20, 2026).
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Imperial County, CA |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | October 6, 2026 |
| Citation | Imperial County, CA second 45-day urgency data center moratorium (Oct. 6, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | County Board Adopts Second 45-Day Data Center Moratorium — Calexico Chronicle (Oct. 7, 2026) |
More AI rules in Imperial County, CA
- Imperial County CA CEQA ruling, 330 MW data center EIR (2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- IVCM v. Imperial County — data center moratorium set aside · Blocked / in litigation
- Imperial County Data Center Moratorium (45-day, adopted June 16, 2026) · Repealed / replaced
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
See something wrong or out of date? Submit a correction. Every entry must carry a verifiable source.