Grant County IN 24-month data center moratorium (2026)

Grant County, Indiana — Ordinance No. 4-2026, adopted by the Board of Commissioners on March 16, 2026 (initial vote March 2, 2026; official signing March 16). INSTRUMENT: 24-month moratorium halting issuance or receipt of improvement-location permits and related applications for structures connected to data centers in unincorporated Grant County, Indiana. TRIGGER: code-silence — the Grant County Zoning Ordinance had not addressed data centers as a use class prior to this ordinance. DURATION: 24 months from adoption (expires approx. March 16, 2028) OR until the Grant County Area Plan Commission completes a study and recommends a zoning ordinance amendment addressing data centers, whichever occurs first. GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE: unincorporated Grant County (excludes incorporated cities and towns including county seat Marion, IN). DRAFTING: County Attorney Marty Harker; Commissioner Ron Stewart (District 3) moved initial vote. STRENGTH: moderate — 24-month duration exceeds most Indiana county moratoria (typical range: 6-12 months), but is still a permit pause rather than a permanent standard. INDIANA CONTEXT: as of July 2026, Indiana University's Environmental Resilience Institute counted at least 17 Indiana counties with temporary moratoriums and 11 with data center ordinances; Grant County is among the earlier adopters (March vs. summer 2026 wave). Grant County is in north-central Indiana; county seat is Marion, IN (not the same as Marion County/Indianapolis).