Spokane County WA 4-month data center moratorium (Aug 2026)
Spokane County, WA — County Commissioners Approve 4-Month Pause on Large-Load Data Center Permits (August 18, 2026)
Spokane County, WA · Spokane County, WA Board of Commissioners, unanimous vote August 18, 2026 — 4-month pause on large-load data center permits through December 15, 2026
- Status
- In effect
- Expires
- December 15, 2026
- Applies to
- Data center developers (≥1 MW load) seeking permits in unincorporated Spokane County, WA
- Enforced by
- Spokane County Planning and Building Department (if enacted)
Spokane County, Washington's Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on August 18, 2026 to pause processing of building permits for large-load data centers (requiring 1 MW or more of electricity) through December 15, 2026. This 4-month compromise emerged after commissioners split 3-2 in an earlier attempt at a 9-month moratorium. The board intends to enact permanent data-center zoning rules at its December 15 final meeting. A September 15, 2026 public hearing is scheduled on the pause. The county covers the Spokane metro area in eastern Washington State; this is distinct from the City of Spokane's own data center ordinance (Ordinance C36887).
Who is protected: Unincorporated Spokane County, WA residents from unrestricted data center development during moratorium period (if enacted)
Legal detail
Spokane County Board of Commissioners unanimous vote, August 18, 2026. Scope: pause on processing building permits for large-load data centers (electricity demand ≥ 1 MW) in unincorporated Spokane County, WA. Duration: through December 15, 2026 (approximately 4 months). Background: initial 9-month moratorium failed on party-line 3-2 vote; compromise pause passed unanimously. Goal: allow time to draft permanent zoning rules for data centers. Public hearing September 15, 2026 on the pause. Expiration: December 15, 2026 (day of final 2026 county board meeting). County seat: Spokane, WA. Distinct from City of Spokane Ordinance C36887 (separately indexed).
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Spokane County, WA |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | August 18, 2026 |
| Citation | Spokane County, WA Board of Commissioners, unanimous vote August 18, 2026 — 4-month pause on large-load data center permits through December 15, 2026 |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Spokane County reverses course, approving four-month data center pause — Washington State Standard |
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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