Six-month data-center permit moratorium (Montgomery County, MD)
Montgomery County (MD) — Six-Month Data Center Permit Moratorium (County Executive Executive Order)
Montgomery County, Maryland · Montgomery County (MD) County Executive Executive Order — six-month data-center permit moratorium (signed ~June 12, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- June 12, 2026
- Applies to
- Developers seeking new data-center building permits in Montgomery County, MD.
- Enforced by
- Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich signed an Executive Order around June 12, 2026 enacting a six-month moratorium on new data-center building permits in Montgomery County, Maryland. Council Member Evan Glass had proposed the measure in May 2026; the County Executive acted on the recommendation. The moratorium pauses new data-center permitting while county officials review grid-cost impacts on ratepayers and potential effects on affordable housing near future Red Line infrastructure. The Atmosphere Data Centers project in Dickerson and any other in-process applications not yet approved would be paused.
Who is protected: Montgomery County residents and electricity ratepayers who would otherwise bear grid upgrade costs driven by data center load growth.
Legal detail
Montgomery County Executive Order (signed ~June 12, 2026): six-month interim moratorium on issuance of new data-center building permits in Montgomery County, MD. Grounds: grid infrastructure cost allocation concerns for residential ratepayers; affordable-housing preservation near future Metro Red Line corridor. Initiated by Council Member Evan Glass proposal (May 5, 2026). Effective date ~June 12, 2026; runs approximately six months.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Montgomery County, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | June 12, 2026 |
| Citation | Montgomery County (MD) County Executive Executive Order — six-month data-center permit moratorium (signed ~June 12, 2026) |
| Penalties | Building permit applications rejected during moratorium period |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · government use of AI |
| Agency page | County Executive Signs Data Center Moratorium Executive Order — MontgomeryCountyMD.gov |
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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