Lee County IL 90-day data center moratorium (2026)
Lee County, IL: County Board Adopts 90-Day Moratorium on Data Center and Tech Development Proposals (Aug. 20, 2026; through Nov. 19, 2026)
Lee County, IL · Lee County, Ill., County Board 90-day moratorium on data center and technology development proposals (adopted Aug. 20, 2026; expires Nov. 19, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Expires
- November 19, 2026
- Applies to
- Developers proposing data centers or other technology developments in Lee County, IL
- Enforced by
- Lee County Board / Lee County zoning administration
On August 20, 2026 the Lee County Board in northern Illinois unanimously voted to pause proposals for data centers and other tech developments for 90 days, until November 19, 2026. The county wants time to write stronger rules first. Residents had raised concerns after a 387-acre site along Interstate 88 and U.S. 30 was advertised as prime data center land. No applications had been filed when the pause was adopted. The board can extend it.
Who is protected: Residents of Lee County, IL near potential data center sites
Legal detail
Lee County, Illinois (county seat Dixon). INSTRUMENT: 90-day moratorium adopted unanimously by the Lee County Board on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, on accepting or processing proposals for data centers and other technology developments. TERM: through 11:59 p.m. Nov. 19, 2026; may be extended. PURPOSE: allow amendment of county regulations covering impacts on neighboring property, roads and infrastructure, water and energy use, noise, emergency response, public safety and long-term project management (County Administrator Jeremy Englund). TRIGGER: 387-acre parcel at I-88/U.S. 30 marketed as 'prime data center development land'; no applications pending at adoption.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Lee County, IL |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | August 20, 2026 |
| Citation | Lee County, Ill., County Board 90-day moratorium on data center and technology development proposals (adopted Aug. 20, 2026; expires Nov. 19, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Proposals not accepted or processed during the moratorium |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · government use of AI |
| News report | Lee County Board approves 90-day moratorium on data centers, tech developments (Sauk Valley Daily Gazette, via Yahoo) |
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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