Dougherty County, GA — Board of Commissioners 45-Day Data Center Moratorium
Dougherty County, GA · Dougherty County, GA Board of Commissioners 45-day data center moratorium (adopted July 20, 2026)
The Dougherty County, Georgia Board of Commissioners approved a 45-day moratorium on July 20, 2026 halting acceptance and approval of zoning applications for data center development in unincorporated Dougherty County (the county surrounding Albany). The short-term pause gives the county planning commission time to study impacts and draft data-center land-use regulations. The county action is distinct from but related to Albany City's separate 12-month moratorium adopted one week later.
Technical detail
Dougherty County (GA) Board of Commissioners 45-day moratorium on accepting and approving zoning applications for data centers in unincorporated Dougherty County; adopted July 20, 2026; expires approximately September 4, 2026. Albany city (county seat) adopted a separate 12-month moratorium July 28, 2026 (see ga-albany-city-dc-moratorium-2026). Companion county planning commission directed to study data-center impacts and draft long-term ordinance within the moratorium window. Water resource concerns (Floridian Aquifer) cited.
Who is protected: Dougherty County, GA unincorporated area residents
Who must comply: Data center developers seeking zoning approvals in unincorporated Dougherty County, GA
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Dougherty County, GA |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2026-07-20 |
| Enacted | 2026-07-20 |
| Citation | Dougherty County, GA Board of Commissioners 45-day data center moratorium (adopted July 20, 2026) |
| Enforced by | Dougherty County Board of Commissioners; Dougherty County Planning Commission |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| Last verified | 2026-07-31 |
| Official source | Dougherty County Approves 45-Day Moratorium on Data Center Applications — Dougherty County Official Website ↗ |
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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