Harmony MN proposed data center ordinance (2026)
Harmony, Minnesota — Sixth Draft of a Data Center Ordinance (Closed-Loop Cooling, Annual Noise Studies, NDA Ban, 400-Foot Agricultural Setback) Sent to Planning & Zoning for a Public Hearing (September 2026)
Harmony, MN · City of Harmony, Minn., draft data center ordinance (draft 6, Sept. 16, 2026)
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Data center developers in Harmony (if adopted)
- Enforced by
- City of Harmony
The small city of Harmony, Minnesota is drafting its first data center ordinance. The sixth draft, reviewed September 16, 2026, would require closed-loop cooling and annual noise studies to show compliance with state pollution-control noise standards, bar nondisclosure agreements so applications are public, cap building height at 40 feet, require a 400-foot setback from agricultural property lines and make developers pay compliance-monitoring costs. The draft goes to a Planning & Zoning public hearing and then to the City Council for final consideration.
Who is protected: Harmony residents
Legal detail
Harmony, Minn. (Fillmore County) — draft 6 reviewed 2026-09-16 by the combined City Council, EDA and P&Z (Fillmore County Journal; KTTC). PROVISIONS (FCJ): max height 40 ft (down from 60); no shipping-container construction; 400-ft minimum setback from agricultural property lines; 3D acoustic model and annual noise studies for MPCA compliance; third-party soils/geotechnical study; developer bears monitoring costs; city may set violation fines; no NDAs. WATER — SOURCES DIFFER: FCJ says water permitted only for initial closed-loop startup and maintenance with no ongoing operational use; KTTC reports a 60,000-gallon monthly cooling cap absent special approval. HEARING — SOURCES DIFFER: KTTC says P&Z public hearing Oct. 14; FCJ says rescheduled to Wednesday Oct. 28, 2026, 6 p.m. City attorney: 'the beginning of the discussion – not the end.' NOT ESTABLISHED: ordinance number; any specific project (KTTC mentions a 'technological park').
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Harmony, MN |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Citation | City of Harmony, Minn., draft data center ordinance (draft 6, Sept. 16, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in the located sources |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · AI disclosure and transparency |
| News report | Harmony Data Center Ordinance Sent to P&Z and Public Hearing — Fillmore County Journal |
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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