Hamilton County TN 1-year data center moratorium (eff. July 15, 2026)
Hamilton County — One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers in Unincorporated Hamilton County
Hamilton County · Hamilton County (TN) Commission, one-year data center moratorium (>1 MW), unincorporated areas (adopted July 15, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Expires
- July 15, 2027
- Applies to
- Data center developers seeking permits or approvals in unincorporated Hamilton County, TN
Hamilton County, Tennessee's County Commission passed a one-year moratorium on new data centers in unincorporated areas on July 15, 2026. The moratorium applies to data centers with more than 1 MW of electricity demand and runs through approximately July 15, 2027. An exception was carved out for an existing jail-related facility (~12,000 sq ft, inside Chattanooga city limits). Mayor Weston Wamp proposed the resolution after widespread community opposition. Hamilton County borders Walker County, Georgia, where a separate data center moratorium was also recently adopted.
Who is protected: Residents of unincorporated Hamilton County, TN near proposed data center sites
Legal detail
Hamilton County (TN) Commission adopted a one-year moratorium on new data centers (>1 MW) in unincorporated Hamilton County on July 15, 2026 (effective immediately). Moratorium resolution introduced at July 1, 2026 Commission meeting by Mayor Weston Wamp; full Commission vote July 15, 2026. Exception for existing jail-related data center (~12,000 sq ft, inside Chattanooga city limits proper). Moratorium runs approximately July 15, 2026 – July 15, 2027. Hamilton County is the home of Chattanooga, TN.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Hamilton County |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | July 15, 2026 |
| Citation | Hamilton County (TN) Commission, one-year data center moratorium (>1 MW), unincorporated areas (adopted July 15, 2026) |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · government use of AI |
| News report | County Mayor Wamp Proposes 1-Year Moratorium On New Data Centers In Unincorporated County - Chattanoogan.com |
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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