Prince George's County MD 2-year data center moratorium
Prince George's County, MD 2-Year Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium
Prince George's County, MD · Prince George's County, MD, County Council 2-year hyperscale data center moratorium (adopted July 7–8, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Expires
- July 8, 2028
- Applies to
- Hyperscale data center developers seeking permits or approvals in Prince George's County, MD
- Enforced by
- Prince George's County Council / Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement
The Prince George's County Council, Maryland, approved a two-year moratorium on all new hyperscale data center development on July 7–8, 2026 — the longest county-level data center moratorium imposed in the United States. The moratorium allows the Council to draft comprehensive zoning legislation setting standards for data center siting and construction. The action came out of the controversy over the proposed conversion of Landover Mall into a data center complex. The moratorium can be lifted early if the Council adopts a comprehensive data center zoning framework before the two-year period expires. One Council member voted against the measure; three abstained.
Who is protected: Prince George's County, MD residents and communities near proposed hyperscale data center sites
Legal detail
Prince George's County Council (Maryland) two-year moratorium on hyperscale data center development, adopted July 7–8, 2026. Duration: two years (to approx. July 2028), with early-termination clause if comprehensive data center zoning legislation is enacted. Catalyst: proposed conversion of former Landover Mall site into a large-scale data center complex. Applies to new hyperscale data center development — 'hyperscale' threshold not specified in available reporting. The county had previously imposed a shorter-term pause; this action extends and formalizes the moratorium. One Council member voted no; three abstained from the vote. The 2-year duration is the longest county-level data center moratorium tracked in the dataset. PGC is one of the most active data-center markets in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Prince George's County, MD |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | July 8, 2026 |
| Citation | Prince George's County, MD, County Council 2-year hyperscale data center moratorium (adopted July 7–8, 2026) |
| Penalties | Permit denial for covered projects during the moratorium period |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Prince George's Co. extends pause on hyperscale data center development (WTOP, July 2026) |
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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