Jay County IN data center zoning ordinance (2026)
Jay County, IN — Commissioners Adopt Data Center Ordinance With 1,000/2,500-Foot Setbacks, 35-Foot Height Cap, Closed-Loop Cooling and 50 dB Noise Limit; Moratoriums Repealed (May 11, 2026)
Jay County, IN · Jay County, Indiana, data center ordinance (adopted by Board of Commissioners May 11, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- May 11, 2026
- Applies to
- Data center developers and operators in Jay County's zoning jurisdiction
- Enforced by
- Jay County Board of Commissioners; Jay County Planning/Zoning
Jay County, Indiana adopted strict rules for data centers: they must sit 1,000 feet from property lines and 2,500 feet from homes, churches, schools, businesses and public buildings, can be no taller than 35 feet, must use closed-loop water cooling, and cannot exceed 50 decibels at the property line, with a 6-foot sound berm. A battery storage ordinance was approved at the same time, replacing earlier moratoriums.
Who is protected: Jay County residents and neighboring property owners (water, noise, visual impacts)
Legal detail
Jay County, IN Board of Commissioners — data center ordinance (2026-05-11): setbacks 1,000 ft from property lines and 2,500 ft from residential dwellings, churches, schools, businesses and public buildings; max height 35 ft; any water-based cooling must be closed-loop; noise max 50 dB measured at property lines; 6-ft berm sound buffer. Companion battery energy storage ordinance adopted same day; earlier moratoriums retroactively repealed. Ordinance number not reported.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Jay County, IN |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Strength | Stronger |
| Enacted | May 11, 2026 |
| Citation | Jay County, Indiana, data center ordinance (adopted by Board of Commissioners May 11, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Non-conforming projects cannot obtain approval |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · government use of AI |
| News report | Rules approved for data centers and battery storage — The Commercial Review (2026-05-11) |
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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