Walton County FL data center ban (eff. June 10, 2026)
Walton County, FL Permanent Countywide Prohibition on Data Centers and Large Load Centers
Walton County, FL · Walton County, FL ordinance (5-0, June 10, 2026) prohibiting data centers and large load centers countywide
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- June 10, 2026
- Applies to
- Data center and large-load-center developers seeking approvals anywhere in Walton County, FL
- Enforced by
- Walton County, FL Planning and Development Services; Board of County Commissioners
Walton County, Florida (Panhandle, including the 30A beach communities) permanently banned data centers and other large electric-load centers countywide on June 10, 2026, by unanimous 5-0 vote. The ban has an intentionally steep exception path: approving any data center would require all five commissioners voting yes, after three public workshops and two public hearings. This is one of the strongest local data center prohibitions in the country.
Who is protected: Walton County, FL residents
Legal detail
Walton County (FL) ordinance adopted 5-0 on June 10, 2026: countywide prohibition on data centers and 'large load centers' (high-demand electric load facilities). Exception mechanism: requires unanimous 5-commissioner vote plus completion of 3 public workshops and 2 public hearings before any approval. Permanent prohibition (no sunset), distinguishing it from the moratorium wave.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Walton County, FL |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Strength | Stronger |
| Enacted | June 10, 2026 |
| Citation | Walton County, FL ordinance (5-0, June 10, 2026) prohibiting data centers and large load centers countywide |
| Penalties | Prohibition — applications not approvable absent the supermajority exception process |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Walton County adopts ordinance prohibiting data, large load centers — WJHG |
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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