Washington County (MD) 12-month data center moratorium
Washington County, MD — Board of County Commissioners 12-Month Moratorium on Data Center Applications in Unincorporated Areas (June 30, 2026)
Washington County, MD · Washington County (MD) 12-month data center moratorium
- Status
- In effect
- Expires
- June 30, 2027
- Applies to
- Washington County
Washington County, Maryland's Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 on June 30, 2026 for a 12-month moratorium on accepting, processing, reviewing or approving applications, plans or requests for data centers. It took effect immediately and lasts 12 months unless modified or extended. It applies only to unincorporated areas; Hagerstown and the county's towns keep their own zoning authority. The county plans to draft permanent data center zoning rules by spring 2027.
Who is protected: People subject to the measure.
Legal detail
Washington County (MD) Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 on 2026-06-30 for a temporary 12-month moratorium on 'the acceptance, processing, reviewing and approval of applications, plans, or requests for data centers'; effective immediately upon adoption and in effect 'for twelve (12) months unless modified or extended' (county release; expires_date derived from that stated term). Applies only in unincorporated areas — incorporated municipalities (e.g., Hagerstown, Boonsboro, Williamsport) retain their own zoning authority. Not intended as a permanent prohibition. Sept. 30, 2026 county statement timeline: Planning Commission workshops Oct–Nov 2026; Commission discussion Dec 2026–Jan 2027; adjustments for state legislation Jan–Feb 2027; draft zoning amendment Mar 2027; Board hearing/adoption Apr–Jun 2027. Staff-recommended standards under discussion include renewable energy plans, water recycling, 50 dBA noise limit at property lines, 1,000-ft residential setbacks, air quality studies, Planned Industrial zoning with Special Exception, and excise taxes or impact fees.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Washington County, MD |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | June 30, 2026 |
| Citation | Washington County (MD) 12-month data center moratorium |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · government use of AI |
| Agency page | Washington County Board of County Commissioners Approves Temporary Moratorium on Data Center Applications — Washington County, MD |
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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