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U.S. AI Laws: data-center siting and energy
As of 2026-08-12, AI Laws USA tracks 378 U.S. AI rules on data-center siting and energy across federal, state, county, and city government. Each entry links to its official source.
Federal data-center siting and energy rules (7)
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In effect
FERC Large-Load Interconnection Orders (RM26-4)
United States · Effective 2026-06-18 · FPA § 206 show-cause orders, FERC Docket Nos. EL26-67 through EL26-72 (June 18, 2026), advancing ANOPR Docket No. RM26-4-000
On June 18, 2026, FERC issued tailored show-cause orders under Section 206 of the Federal Power Act to the six major U.S. regional grid operators (PJM, MISO, SPP, CAISO, ISO-NE, and NYISO), directing each to either justify its existing large-load interconnection tariff as just and reasonable or file tariff revisions within 60 days. The orders target the surge in demand from AI data centers and large industrial loads, requiring reforms to study processes, cost transparency to prevent cost-shifting onto ordinary ratepayers, co-location and behind-the-meter accommodation, and new services for flexible large loads. FERC left retail cost-shifting protection to state regulators; reforms apply prospectively and do not disrupt existing deals.
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Blocked / in litigation
NAACP v. xAI (Colossus 2 Air Pollution)
N.D. Miss. · Effective 2026-04-14 · NAACP et al. v. xAI Corp. et al., No. 3:26-cv-00074-MPM-JMV (N.D. Miss., filed April 14, 2026)
The NAACP and local organizations sued xAI and its affiliate MZX Tech in April 2026, alleging 27 natural gas turbines at xAI's Colossus 2 data center in Southaven, Mississippi were operated without required air permits, harming predominantly Black residents near the facility. In June 2026, the Trump DOJ moved to intervene and dismiss the case, arguing the lawsuit would 'hamper America's AI innovation' — marking the first time DOJ used a motion to dismiss a citizen Clean Air Act suit on AI-policy grounds.
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In effect
DHS AI Critical Infra Framework
United States · Effective 2024-11-14 · DHS Framework (Nov. 14, 2024)
DHS released a voluntary framework that lays out the responsibilities of cloud providers, AI developers, AI deployers, critical-infrastructure owners, and civil society for the safe and secure use of AI in U.S. critical infrastructure sectors — including grid, water, financial services, and healthcare.
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In effect
DOE AI Energy Framework
United States · Effective 2024-04-29 · DOE AI for Energy Report (Apr. 29, 2024)
DOE's AI for Energy report sets federal expectations for how utilities, grid operators, and large compute customers use AI for grid operations, demand forecasting, and energy-resource planning — including data centers that strain regional grids.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
FERC order directing PJM and other grid operators to reform
United States · FERC order directing PJM and other grid operators to reform tariffs on large-load (data center) transmission cost allocation (Docket RM26-4-000)
FERC ordered PJM and other regional grid operators to revise or defend their tariffs within 60 days to prevent existing ratepayers from being unlawfully charged for transmission upgrades required to serve large new loads such as AI data centers.
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Blocked / in litigation
Newsom v. ADS/Amazon (Louisa County VA data center nuisance)
United States · Newsom v. ADS, W.D. Va. (Charlottesville Div.) — motion to dismiss denied early July 2026; preliminary-injunction hearing 2026-08-19
A Louisa County, Virginia homeowner sued an Amazon Web Services affiliate (ADS) over a nearby data center construction project, alleging brown tap water, dust, and loud noise since construction began in March 2025. A federal judge denied Amazon's motion to dismiss in early July 2026, letting the private nuisance claim proceed. The plaintiff is seeking a preliminary injunction to force changes to construction practices, not to halt construction entirely; a hearing is set for August 19, 2026.
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Proposed / pending
H.R. 9340 Ratepayer Protection Act (proposed)
United States · H.R. 9340, 119th Cong. (2026)
H.R. 9340 would amend section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621(d)) to add a federal ratemaking standard for 'large-load customers', requiring that rates charged to such a customer be designed to recover from that customer the full incremental cost of any generation, transmission or distribution upgrade necessary to serve its load, including where the customer terminates its contract or ceases purchasing energy. Before making such an upgrade the utility would have to require the customer to provide financial assurances or contributions covering its cost. A 'large-load customer' is defined as a non-residential electric consumer requesting or contracting for electric energy for one or more facilities with an aggregate peak demand of 100 megawatts or more at a single site or campus.
State data-center siting and energy rules (61)
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In effect
Cherokee Nation (OK) hyperscale data center ban
Cherokee Nation (OK) · Effective 2026-08-05 · Cherokee Nation Principal Chief's Policy Announcement — Hyperscale Data Center Ban on Tribally Owned and Trust Lands (August 5, 2026); backstory: EO 2026-02-CTH (Feb. 24, 2026)
On August 5, 2026, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. announced that the Cherokee Nation will ban hyperscale data centers on all tribally owned and trust lands. The policy follows a task force report citing significant concerns about energy and water consumption, air quality, noise and light pollution, infrastructure strain, and the protection of cultural resources. Community surveys found a large majority of Cherokee citizens do not support hyperscale data center construction within the reservation. For land within the reservation that is not tribally owned or in trust, the Nation will not support data center development unless developers engage in robust early consultation. The task force — established by Executive Order 2026-02-CTH (Feb. 24, 2026) — recommended creating a permanent advisory committee to evaluate future proposals. The Cherokee Nation is the largest tribe in the United States by citizenship.
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In effect
EBCI Ord. 158 (Data Center Moratorium)
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians · Effective 2026-05-07 · EBCI Ordinance No. 158, Cherokee Code ch. 47E (May 7, 2026)
Indefinite moratorium on data center development on the Qualla Boundary. Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) voted 11-0 to amend the Cherokee Code Chapter 47E, finding that high-impact digital infrastructure 'presents a clear and present danger to the lands and people' of the EBCI.
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In effect
Sault Tribe (MI) AI Data Center Moratorium
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians · Effective 2026-04-07 · Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board Resolution (Apr. 7, 2026)
Sault Tribe Board of Directors voted unanimously to halt any AI data center development on tribal lands indefinitely, citing strain on local resources and uncertain economic benefit. Came after dozens of community members spoke at public comment.
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In effect
Seminole Nation (OK) Data Center / GenAI Moratorium
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma · Effective 2026-03-07 · Seminole Nation of Oklahoma Tribal Council Resolution (Mar. 7, 2026)
First tribal council in the United States to fully bar inquiries, discussions, and development of any data center or generative AI hyperscale infrastructure within Seminole Nation territory. Unanimous (24-0) vote citing water-contamination and sovereignty concerns.
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In effect
NY Hochul EO — Statewide Data Center Moratorium (2026)
New York · Effective 2026-07-14 · New York Governor Hochul Executive Order (July 14, 2026), imposing statewide moratorium on data centers >50 MW
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an Executive Order on July 14, 2026 imposing the first statewide data center moratorium in the United States. The order pauses state permitting for new data centers that plan to draw more than 50 megawatts of electricity at any one time. It also directs the Public Service Commission to conduct a generic environmental and energy review of data center impacts, and directs Empire State Development to create a 'Community Interest Framework' within 60 days to help local governments negotiate with data center developers. The moratorium is separate from the pending legislative bill S10642/A11560 (which Hochul did not sign or veto); the EO accomplishes a moratorium through the Governor's authority over state permitting systems rather than through the DEC permit mechanism proposed in the bill.
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In effect
NM Land Commissioner blocks Project Jupiter pipeline (July 14, 2026)
NM · Effective 2026-07-14 · New Mexico State Land Office denial letter (July 14, 2026), Project Jupiter-related pipeline right-of-way on state trust land — second denial
New Mexico's State Land Commissioner has again refused to let a pipeline serving the proposed Project Jupiter data center cross state trust land. A denial letter dated July 14, 2026 marks the office's second rejection of the right-of-way request, cutting off a key infrastructure route for the project.
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Blocked / in litigation
Ostergaard v. Microsoft — data center noise class action (2026)
Wisconsin · Effective 2026-07-01 · Ostergaard v. Microsoft Corp., No. 2:26-cv-01169-JPS (E.D. Wis. filed July 1, 2026)
Three homeowners — Garret Ostergaard, David Wade and Joy Wade — filed a putative class action against Microsoft Corporation on 2026-07-01 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin over noise from Microsoft's 'Fairwater' AI data center on Braun Road in the Village of Mount Pleasant. The complaint alleges the facility, a multi-building campus of roughly 1.2 million square feet requiring hundreds of megawatts, emits unreasonable and excessive noise onto surrounding residential properties through its cooling systems and backup generators, causing loss of use and enjoyment and diminished property value. The pleaded counts are Count I private nuisance — substantial and unreasonable interference alleged to be intentional, knowing, reckless and/or negligent, recurring, ongoing and abatable with ordinary care — and Count II negligence, for negligently constructing, maintaining and operating the facility including inadequate soundproofing.
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In effect
OR PUC Data Center Rate Class
OR · Effective 2024-12-04 · Or. PUC Order No. 24-447
Oregon's Public Utility Commission established a separate large-load rate class — covering data centers, crypto, and AI compute customers — to protect residential customers from cost-shifting and require minimum-take obligations. PacifiCorp and Portland General Electric must apply the new tariffs to incoming AI data centers.
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In effect
VA SCC Data Center Rate Case
VA · Effective 2024-11-13 · Va. SCC Case No. PUR-2024-00144
Virginia's State Corporation Commission opened a formal investigation into how data center load growth — driven by AI compute demand — should be allocated across electricity rate classes, to keep residential customers from subsidizing AI data centers. Includes minimum-billing demands and special tariffs.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
PA HB 1924 data center water/energy reporting (signed July 12, 2026)
PA · Pennsylvania HB 1924 (signed July 12, 2026, FY2026-27 budget), annual data center water/energy reporting mandate
Pennsylvania now requires data centers to report their water and energy use every year. The mandate — House Bill 1924, signed July 12, 2026 as part of the state's 2026-27 budget — carries fines of $10,000 per day for facilities that fail to report. The Department of Environmental Protection will publish an annual aggregate report, and the data is expected to improve grid-demand forecasting in the PJM region.
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In effect
Texas Gov. Abbott data center grid-connection audit freeze
Texas · Effective 2026-08-03 · Texas Governor Abbott, Directive to PUCT and ERCOT re: Comprehensive Data Center Audit (August 3, 2026)
On August 3, 2026, Governor Greg Abbott issued a directive to the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT (the state's grid operator) freezing all pending approvals for data centers seeking connections to the Texas power grid until a comprehensive audit is complete. Every project in ERCOT's interconnection queue must now disclose: what tax incentives, grants, or abatements it has received or expects to receive; how much power it will use and whether it is generating any of its own electricity; how much water it will consume, where it comes from, and what cooling technology will be used; what steps it is taking to reduce noise, traffic, and other community impacts; and ownership of the facility. Any project that fails to comply or meet PUCT, ERCOT, or state requirements must be denied a grid connection. ERCOT had more than 1,800 projects in its queue representing over 474 gigawatts of requested capacity — roughly five times ERCOT's record peak demand — with approximately 90 percent being data centers.
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In effect
Muscogee (Creek) Nation digital infrastructure task force
Muscogee (Creek) Nation · Effective 2026-07-25 · Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council — Tribal Digital Infrastructure and Data Sovereignty Task Force (enacted 12-3, July 25, 2026)
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council voted 12-3 on July 25, 2026 to establish the Tribal Digital Infrastructure and Data Sovereignty Task Force. The task force is charged with studying the potential environmental impact, effects on cultural resources and cybersecurity, and data sovereignty implications of AI systems and data center development on reservation lands. Principal Chief David Hill supported the legislation, citing community feedback about data center and AI infrastructure concerns. The task force — which includes the Principal Chief, National Council representatives, the attorney general's office, and the tribal utility authority — has 60 days to report its findings to the National Council (deadline approximately September 23, 2026). This is a study body, not a moratorium; no ban on data centers has been enacted.
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In effect
Nebraska Gov. Pillen EO rescinding ImagiNE Act data center incentives for new applications
Nebraska · Effective 2026-07-20 · Nebraska Executive Order (Gov. Jim Pillen, July 20, 2026) — Rescinding ImagiNE Act data center tax incentives for new applications
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed an executive order on July 20, 2026 rescinding data centers' access to tax incentives under the ImagiNE Nebraska Act for all new applications. Existing approved data center projects are not affected. The order also establishes a Data Center Task Force through the Department of Water, Energy and Environment to evaluate incoming major data center proposals and assess their impact on Nebraska's land, water, and public power system. Pillen stated the order is not a moratorium on data centers, and local governments retain authority over construction decisions. Nebraska data centers had received approximately $519 million in property tax exemptions since 2021 under the ImagiNE Act. Nebraska is also the only U.S. state where 100 percent of electricity is provided by publicly owned utilities. In June 2026, Pillen had signed LB 1261, which prevents new data centers from depending on power built and funded by Nebraska ratepayers.
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In effect
TN HB 1847 data center ratepayer protection (2026)
TN · Effective 2026-07-01 · Tenn. HB 1847/SB 2128 (114th G.A., 2026) — signed May 7, 2026; eff. July 1, 2026
Tennessee HB 1847/SB 2128, signed May 7, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, requires data centers drawing 50 megawatts or more of electricity to pay their proportionate share of transmission and distribution infrastructure costs, rather than spreading those costs across all utility ratepayers. The law prevents large hyperscale data centers from being cross-subsidized by ordinary residential and small commercial customers.
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In effect
Arizona Data Center Tax Incentive Moratorium (3-year, 2026)
Arizona · Effective 2026-07-01 · Arizona FY 2027 Budget Bill (signed June 13, 2026); three-year data center sales tax exemption moratorium
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed the state's $18.3 billion FY 2027 budget on June 13, 2026, which included a bipartisan provision imposing a three-year pause on new sales tax exemptions for data centers (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029). Arizona's 2013 data-center sales-tax break costs the state roughly $38 million per year; existing exemptions remain in effect, but no new certificates can be issued until the moratorium lifts. The measure is projected to save $57 million over three fiscal years while policymakers study whether the incentives still serve the state's interests.
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In effect
VA Data Center Cost-Allocation Law
Virginia · Effective 2026-07-01 · Va. SB 253 (2026) (Sen. Lucas); companion Va. HB 1393 (2026); related Va. HB 507 (2026, generator air permits). Signed with gubernatorial amendments, May 2026; effective July 1, 2026.
Virginia's 2026 data-center cost-allocation law (SB 253, by Sen. L. Louise Lucas, with companion HB 1393). As amended by Gov. Spanberger and signed in May 2026, it lets the State Corporation Commission (SCC) shift certain electricity costs — PJM capacity-auction purchases and the financing of distribution lines and substations that mainly serve data centers — onto data centers and other very large (25 MW+) customers in their rate class, instead of spreading them across residential bills. The governor's amendments made the cost-shift SCC-discretionary rather than automatic, so the real-world savings depend on future SCC rate cases. The bill also extends Dominion and Appalachian Power low-income weatherization programs.
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In effect
SB 484 (FL Data Center Costs)
Florida · Effective 2026-07-01 · Fla. Ch. 2026-65 (SB 484, 2026)
One of the first state laws regulating AI data centers' utility impact: large data centers must bear their own electricity infrastructure costs rather than shifting them to households and small businesses, local governments keep their authority to reject data center projects, and Florida's water resources get new protections. Takes effect July 1, 2026.
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In effect
WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy)
Washington · Effective 2026-06-11 · WA SB 5982, Chapter 181, Laws of 2026 (2025-26 Leg. Sess.)
Washington bill that closes a loophole in the state's 100% clean energy law (Clean Energy Transformation Act) so that large customers — especially data centers — must meet the same carbon-neutrality and renewable-energy deadlines as electric utilities. Signed by Governor Ferguson on 2026-03-24 as Chapter 181, Laws of 2026; in effect since 2026-06-11.
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In effect
Oregon HB 4084 Data Center Tax Moratorium
Oregon · Effective 2026-06-05 · Oregon HB 4084 (2026 Leg. Session, eff. June 5, 2026)
Oregon House Bill 4084, effective June 5, 2026, temporarily suspends the state's property-tax exemption for qualifying data centers — a program that had offered facilities up to 15 years of tax relief to attract investment. The suspension halts new applications while the legislature evaluates whether the incentive is still in the public interest given rapid data center growth and grid strain concerns.
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In effect
Order 26-154 Approving PGE Large-Load Tariff Framework for D
Oregon Public Utility Commission (Portland General Electric) · Effective 2026-05-07 · Order 26-154 Approving PGE Large-Load Tariff Framework for Data Centers
The Oregon PUC approved a large-load tariff for data centers exceeding 20 MW that requires customers to fund 100% of distribution upgrades, sign 10-to-30-year contracts, pay minimum demand charges at 90% of contracted capacity, and adds a 1 cent/kWh surcharge on projects over 100 MW to offset residential and low-income customer costs. In July 2026 the PUC approved PGE's compliance rate filing implementing the framework: data-center customers' rates rise about 29.7% while residential bills drop about 1.3%.
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In effect
Model Tariff Framework for Large Load Customers (Docket M-20
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission · Effective 2026-04-30 · Model Tariff Framework for Large Load Customers (Docket M-2025-3054271)
The Pennsylvania PUC adopted a first-of-its-kind model tariff framework requiring large load customers exceeding 50 MW individually or 100 MW in aggregate (e.g., data centers) to bear interconnection upgrade costs, post financial assurances, and follow a public application queue so existing ratepayers are not saddled with their costs.
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In effect
We Energies Very Large Customer (VLC) Data Center Tariff Ord
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (We Energies) · Effective 2026-04-24 · We Energies Very Large Customer (VLC) Data Center Tariff Order
The Wisconsin PSC approved but overhauled We Energies' data center tariff, lowering the eligibility threshold from 500 MW to 100 MW, extending the minimum contract term to 15 years, and removing a capacity-only option so data centers pay their full share and existing customers are not subsidizing them.
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In effect
Cherokee Nation EO 2026-02-CTH (Data Center Task Force)
Cherokee Nation (OK) · Effective 2026-02-24 · Cherokee Nation Executive Order 2026-02-CTH (Feb. 24, 2026)
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed Executive Order 2026-02-CTH on February 24, 2026, establishing a nine-member task force to study the environmental and economic impacts of data center development on the Cherokee Nation Reservation. The task force — formally titled the 'Principal Chief's Task Force to Study the Impact of Data Centers on the Economy and Natural Environment of the Cherokee Nation Reservation' — is led by Secretary of Natural Resources Christina Justice, with Chief of Staff Dr. Corey Bunch serving as co-chair and CIO Paula Starr as a member. The task force was charged with assessing the current and projected scope of data center construction on the 7,000-square-mile reservation, environmental concerns (including water and energy impacts), economic opportunities and detriments for citizens, and tribal and state/federal policy advocacy options. The report was due to Principal Chief Hoskin by June 30, 2026; its public release has not been confirmed as of July 11, 2026.
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In effect
New GS-5 Data Center / Large Load Rate Class, DEV 2025 Bienn
Virginia State Corporation Commission (Dominion Energy Virginia) · Effective 2025-11-25 · New GS-5 Data Center / Large Load Rate Class, DEV 2025 Biennial Review (Case PUR-2025-00058)
The Virginia SCC created a new GS-5 rate class (effective Jan 1, 2027) for customers exceeding 25 MW with load factor above 75%, requiring 14-year contracts and minimum demand charges of 85% for transmission/distribution and 60% for generation so data centers pay their own costs.
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In effect
AEP Ohio Data Center Tariff Order (Case 24-0508-EL-ATA)
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (AEP Ohio) · Effective 2025-07-09 · AEP Ohio Data Center Tariff Order (Case 24-0508-EL-ATA)
The Ohio PUC adopted a settlement creating a new data center customer class for loads of 25 MW or greater, requiring those customers to pay for at least 85% of contracted capacity for a minimum 12-year term plus exit fees and financial assurances to prevent cost-shifting to other customers.
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In effect
Minnesota State systemwide Generative AI guidance and approv
Minnesota State (Minnesota State Colleges and Universities) · Effective 2025-07-03 · Minnesota State systemwide Generative AI guidance and approved-tools policy
Minnesota State issues systemwide generative-AI guidance authorizing secured tools like Microsoft Copilot, blocking services such as Otter.AI and Fireflies.AI for security, and ensuring system data is not used to train external AI models.
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In effect
Texas SB 6 (Data Center Grid Law)
Texas · Effective 2025-06-21 · Tex. SB 6 (2025), amending Tex. Util. Code
Texas now regulates how very large electricity users such as data centers connect to the ERCOT grid. Loads over 75 MW face a minimum $100,000 transmission study fee and financial commitments, and new large loads must install remote-disconnect capability so ERCOT can curtail them during grid emergencies.
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In effect
Oregon POWER Act
Oregon · Effective 2025-06-05 · Or. HB 3546 (2025) (POWER Act)
Oregon's first-in-the-nation POWER Act makes data centers and crypto-mining operations pay for their own grid costs instead of shifting them onto household utility bills. Large users over 20 MW are placed in a separate rate class and must sign long-term contracts committing to minimum payments.
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In effect
Large-Load Flexible Tariff Investigation for Facilities Reac
Utah Public Service Commission (Rocky Mountain Power / PacifiCorp) · Effective 2025-03-01 · Large-Load Flexible Tariff Investigation for Facilities Reaching 100 MW (per SB 132)
Following Utah SB 132 (2025), the Utah PSC opened an investigation into a flexible large-load tariff for Rocky Mountain Power covering facilities expected to reach at least 100 MW within five years, allowing such facilities to procure their own supply if serving them would require major ratepayer-funded upgrades.
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In effect
I&M Industrial Power (Large Load) Tariff Settlement Order (C
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (Indiana Michigan Power) · Effective 2025-02-19 · I&M Industrial Power (Large Load) Tariff Settlement Order (Cause No. 46097)
The Indiana URC approved a settlement modifying Indiana Michigan Power's Industrial Power Tariff for facilities of at least 70 MW (or 150 MW aggregated), requiring 12-year contracts, minimum monthly demand charges of 80% of contract capacity, exit fees, and collateral so grid-upgrade costs fall on data centers rather than existing ratepayers.
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In effect
Rule Establishing Special Contract Terms for Large-Load Cust
Georgia Public Service Commission (Georgia Power) · Effective 2025-01-23 · Rule Establishing Special Contract Terms for Large-Load Customers Over 100 MW
The Georgia PSC unanimously approved a rule allowing Georgia Power to bill new customers using more than 100 MW under special terms, requiring them to cover transmission and distribution construction costs, permitting contracts up to 15 years, and mandating PSC review of each large-load contract.
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In effect
VA Data Center Tax Exemption
Virginia · Effective 2010-07-01 · Va. Code § 58.1-609.3(18)
Virginia exempts qualifying data centers from sales and use tax on servers and related equipment — a key driver of the world's largest data center market in Northern Virginia. Operators must meet capital investment and job-creation thresholds; the exemption runs through mid-2035 with extensions for very large investments.
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Proposed / pending
Pennsylvania Municipal Data Center Moratorium Bills (Coleman
Pennsylvania · Pennsylvania Municipal Data Center Moratorium Bills (Coleman / Friel)
Two Pennsylvania bills advancing in the Senate would authorize municipalities to enact temporary moratoriums (up to 18 months and six months) on data center development applications.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Virginia FY2026-2028 Biennial Budget: Data Center Electricit
Virginia · Virginia FY2026-2028 Biennial Budget: Data Center Electricity Tax, Water Cooling and Noise Provisions
Virginia's new two-year budget imposes a first-of-its-kind $0.011/kWh tax on data center electricity consumption effective July 1, 2026, and directs regulators to establish water-cooling scarcity rules and first-ever noise standards for data centers.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
S731/A796 — Data center ratepayer protection and grid-demand
New Jersey · NJ S731/A796 (Data Center Fair Share Act), signed by Governor Sherrill July 7, 2026
New Jersey Governor Sherrill signed S731/A796 — the Data Center Fair Share Act — into law on July 7, 2026. The law requires large data centers (those with 100 megawatts or more of contracted electricity) to pay for the full amount of electricity they contract for, and to reduce or shift energy use during peak grid stress events. The law is designed to prevent large data centers from reserving grid capacity that ordinary ratepayers then subsidize.
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Proposed / pending
North Carolina Senate Bill 730 (Data Center Water and Coolin
North Carolina · North Carolina Senate Bill 730 (Data Center Water and Cooling Regulations)
North Carolina's House advanced SB 730 to largely prohibit evaporative cooling, require closed-loop water systems, and direct the state to set water-use standards for large data centers.
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Proposed / pending
Senate Bill 1345 - Municipal Data Center Development Morator
Pennsylvania · Senate Bill 1345 - Municipal Data Center Development Moratorium Authority
Pennsylvania SB 1345, which would let municipalities impose an 18-month moratorium on unapproved and new data center applications while they revise zoning and policies, advanced out of the Senate Local Government Committee to the Senate floor.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
AZ HB 2756 Utilities/High Load Factor
AZ · AZ HB2756 (Fifty-seventh Legislature — Second Regular Session, 2026)
AZ HB 2756 would require the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to establish cost-responsibility rules protecting residential and small-business ratepayers from electricity grid upgrade costs caused by large high-load-factor customers such as data centers. Companion bill to AZ HB 4158 (FY2027 data center tax moratorium). Awaiting primary-source verification of enacted status.
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Vetoed
Maine Data Center Moratorium (vetoed)
Maine · Me. LD 307 (132nd Leg.); passed ~Apr. 14, 2026; vetoed Apr. 24, 2026
Maine's legislature became the first in the nation to pass a statewide data center moratorium — a pause on data centers over 20 megawatts until November 2027 — but Gov. Janet Mills vetoed it on April 24, 2026. She said she supports a temporary moratorium but wanted an exemption for development already underway at the former Androscoggin Mill site in the town of Jay. So there is no statewide Maine data center moratorium; local moratoriums (e.g., Bangor) still apply.
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Proposed / pending
LG&E/KU CPCN Order Addressing Extremely High Load Factor Dat
Kentucky Public Service Commission (LG&E and KU) · LG&E/KU CPCN Order Addressing Extremely High Load Factor Data Center Tariff (Case 2025-00045)
The Kentucky PSC authorized LG&E/KU to build two gas plants for future data centers and endorsed an 'extremely high load factor' tariff under which new data centers using at least 100 MW must pay for at least 80% of their stated monthly consumption for 15 years, while deferring the cost-recovery mechanism to a later rate case.
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Proposed / pending
Large Load Tariff Docket Opened via Duke Energy Progress/Car
Public Service Commission of South Carolina · Large Load Tariff Docket Opened via Duke Energy Progress/Carolinas Settlements
Settlements with Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolinas require the South Carolina PSC to open a large load tariff docket that could establish consumer protections ensuring incremental data-center costs are not shifted onto residential and traditional business customers.
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Proposed / pending
NM Project Jupiter air permit hearing (Oct 19, 2026)
NM · NMED Project Jupiter air quality permit proceeding — public hearing Oct. 19, 2026; decision due Nov. 23, 2026
New Mexico's environmental regulator will hold a public hearing on October 19, 2026 before deciding whether to grant an air quality permit to Project Jupiter, a massive proposed data center project. A decision is due by November 23, 2026. The hearing gives residents a formal channel to weigh in on the project's air emissions (including from on-site generation).
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Proposed / pending
SB436
GA · GA SB436 (2025-2026 Regular Session)
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to counties, municipal corporations, and other governmental entities, so as to prohibit local governments and political subdivisions from entering into nondisclosure agreements regarding electricity usage or water usage of any entity; to amend Code Section 48-8-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from sales and use tax, so as to suspend the issuance of new certificates of exemption for certain high-technology data cent
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Expired
SB526
KS · KS SB526 (2025-2026 Regular Session)
Requiring data centers to be located on land that was zoned for industrial or manufacturing uses or was not zoned on July 1, 2025, to qualify for the sales tax exemption for qualified data centers.
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Proposed / pending
HB560
MD · MD HB560 (2026 Regular Session)
Repealing an exemption from the sales and use tax for certain sales of certain personal property for use at certain qualified data centers under certain circumstances; and repealing the authorization for a governing body of a county or municipal corporation to reduce or eliminate the assessment of certain personal property used in certain qualified data centers.
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Proposed / pending
HB6137
MI · MI HB6137 (103rd Legislature)
Businesses: other; community benefit agreements; require certain data centers to be subject to. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 6135'26, HB 6136'26, HB 6140'26, HB 6141'26, HB 6138'26, HB 6142'26, HB 6139'26
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Proposed / pending
HB6138
MI · MI HB6138 (103rd Legislature)
Businesses: other; data center water usage requirements; provide for. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 6135'26, HB 6140'26, HB 6141'26, HB 6137'26, HB 6142'26, HB 6139'26
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Proposed / pending
SB1050
MI · MI SB1050 (103rd Legislature)
Businesses: other; community benefit agreements; require certain data centers to be subject to. Creates new act.
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Proposed / pending
HB6139
MI · MI HB6139 (103rd Legislature)
Construction: permits; acoustic engineering report for data center; require to receive building permit. Amends 1972 PA 230 (MCL 125.1501 - 125.1531) by adding sec. 10a. TIE BAR WITH: HB 6135'26, HB 6140'26, HB 6141'26, HB 6137'26, HB 6138'26, HB 6142'26
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Proposed / pending
HB6135
MI · MI HB6135 (103rd Legislature)
Public utilities: rates; large load commercial rates for data centers; establish. Amends 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.1 - 460.11) by adding sec. 10ii. TIE BAR WITH: HB 6140'26, HB 6141'26, HB 6137'26, HB 6138'26, HB 6142'26, HB 6139'26
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Proposed / pending
HB6140
MI · MI HB6140 (103rd Legislature)
Public employees and officers: other; nondisclosure agreements related to the construction of data centers; prohibit. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 6135'26, HB 6141'26, HB 6137'26, HB 6138'26, HB 6142'26, HB 6139'26
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Proposed / pending
SF4203
MN · MN SF4203 (94th Legislature 2025-2026)
Exemption of data centers modification for sales and use tax
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Proposed / pending
SF5231
MN · MN SF5231 (94th Legislature 2025-2026)
Data centers tax exemption repeal; contingent reduction in special education aid appropriation repeal
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Proposed / pending
HF5125
MN · MN HF5125 (94th Legislature 2025-2026)
Data centers sales and use tax exemption repealed, and contingent reduction in special education aid appropriations repealed.
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Proposed / pending
HB2359
PA · PA HB2359 (2025-2026 Regular Session)
An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), entitled "An act relating to tax reform and State taxation by codifying and enumerating certain subjects of taxation and imposing taxes thereon; providing procedures for the payment, collection, administration and enforcement thereof; providing for tax credits in certain cases; conferring powers and imposing duties upon the Department of Revenue, certain employers, fiduciaries, individuals, persons, corporations and other entities; prescribing crimes, offenses and penalties," in computer data center equipment incentive program, further pr
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Proposed / pending
HB2516
PA · PA HB2516 (2025-2026 Regular Session)
An Act amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; in comprehensive plan, providing for comprehensive plan element for commercial data centers; and, in zoning, providing for zoning, commercial data centers and agricultural land protections and for zoning, commercial data centers, approval procedure and minimum standards.
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Proposed / pending
HB2655
WA · WA HB2655 (2025-2026 Regular Session)
Providing a retail sales and use tax exemption for the construction and equipping of new data centers located in a county east of the Cascades that borders another state and has a population of at least 500,000.
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Vetoed
VA Data Center Siting Bill (Vetoed)
Virginia · Va. HB 1601 (2025) (vetoed May 2, 2025)
A bipartisan 2025 bill that would have required data center developers to perform site assessments covering water, noise, and historic resources before local land-use approval, including noise studies for homes and schools within 500 feet. Governor Youngkin vetoed it on May 2, 2025.
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Vetoed
GA Data Center Tax Break Fight
Georgia · Ga. HB 1192 (2024) (vetoed); O.C.G.A. § 48-8-3(68.1) (exemption in effect)
Georgia lawmakers voted in 2024 to pause new data center sales tax exemptions for two years, but Governor Kemp vetoed the bill, keeping the tax break in place. The fight resumed in the 2026 session with bills to sunset or repeal the exemption, one of which passed the Senate.
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Proposed / pending
NY Responsible Data Center Development Act (passed, awaiting Governor)
New York · N.Y. S.10642 / A.11560 (2025–2026); The Responsible Data Center Development Act
New York's legislature passed a bill that would put a one-year pause on permits for the largest new data centers (peak load over 20 megawatts), require a public hearing before any future data center is approved, order a statewide study of data centers' energy and water use and pollution, create separate (higher) electric and water rate classes for big data centers so their costs aren't shifted onto households, and set labor standards for building them. If Gov. Hochul signs it, it would be the first statewide data center moratorium in the country.
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Vetoed
ME LD 307 (vetoed)
ME · Me. LD 307 (2026) — vetoed Apr. 24, 2026
Maine LD 307 would have imposed a moratorium on municipal and state permitting of data centers with a load of 20 megawatts or more until November 1, 2027. Governor Mills vetoed it on April 24, 2026, stating she would have signed the bill if it had included an exemption for a specific data center project in Jay, ME — not federal preemption concerns as previously stated.
County data-center siting and energy rules (163)
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In effect
Gulf County FL AI data center moratorium (2026)
Gulf County, FL · Effective 2026-07-27 · Gulf County, Fla. — Board of County Commissioners, 4-1 vote, 2026-07-27
The Gulf County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 on Monday, July 27, 2026 to approve a one-year moratorium on new AI data centers, to allow time to study potential impacts and develop a policy before any future projects are considered. Commissioner Phil McCroan moved the measure with Commissioner Randy Pridgeon's support; Commissioner Jack Husband cast the dissenting vote.
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In effect
Henderson County NC data center regulations (eff. July 15, 2026)
Henderson County, NC · Effective 2026-07-15 · Henderson County, NC code amendment, July 15, 2026, extending crypto-mining regulations to all data centers
Henderson County, North Carolina (Hendersonville area) now applies its strict crypto-mining rules to all data centers. Under a code amendment adopted July 15, 2026, data centers are allowed only in industrial zones with a special use permit, must sit 100 feet back from property lines, cannot operate between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. or on Sundays, cannot exceed 50 decibels measured at 100 feet, must build an 8-foot sound wall, and must be at least 2 miles from any other such facility.
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In effect
Santa Fe County NM data center moratorium (2026)
Santa Fe County, NM · Effective 2026-07-09 · Santa Fe County, N.M. Ordinance No. 2026-06
Section 5 bars the County from accepting any new application for a Development Approval or Development Permit for a Data Center, bars the Board and any County body from further processing or acting on such applications, and bars issuance of any such approval or permit. 'Data Center' means a facility, or proposed expansion, designed or used primarily for housing, managing, operating or transmitting data with a proposed aggregate IT Load Capacity of 1 megawatt or greater, expressly including hyperscale, artificial-intelligence computing, cloud, colocation and cryptocurrency mining facilities, and excluding ordinary computer rooms, server closets and IT equipment incidental to a principal lawful use. Exemptions cover sub-threshold facilities, County-owned or County-operated governmental data processing, applications deemed complete before the effective date, and facilities with vested rights as determined by the County Land Use Administrator.
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In effect
Jackson County FL data center ban (unincorporated, eff. June 23, 2026)
Jackson County, FL · Effective 2026-06-23 · Jackson County, Fla., Board of County Commissioners ordinance banning data centers in unincorporated county areas (final vote June 9, 2026; effective June 23, 2026)
The Jackson County, Florida Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a permanent ordinance banning data centers in unincorporated areas of the county after three public hearings. The ban took effect June 23, 2026 and replaces an earlier moratorium. It was triggered by community opposition to a proposed AI-focused data center near Compass Lake in Jackson County's panhandle territory. The ordinance also directed county staff to develop future comprehensive plan amendments addressing water use, electrical infrastructure, noise, environmental impacts, and traffic. Municipalities within Jackson County must adopt their own restrictions to be bound; the ban applies only to unincorporated county areas.
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In effect
Woodbury County IA Resolution 14064 — 12-month data center moratorium
Woodbury County, IA · Effective 2026-06-23 · Woodbury County, IA Resolution 14064 (adopted 5-0, June 23, 2026)
The Woodbury County (IA) Board of Supervisors voted unanimously 5-0 on June 23, 2026 to adopt Resolution 14064, a 12-month moratorium on data center applications in unincorporated Woodbury County. The moratorium prohibits the county from accepting, processing, or approving any zoning, subdivision, site plan, conditional use permit, building permit, rezoning, or other development application for any type or class of data center in unincorporated areas of the county, for 12 months from adoption. The resolution does not affect data center projects already approved or those within incorporated city limits. The vote was triggered in part by a proposal involving approximately 900 acres of farmland near Salix that MidAmerican Energy had proposed annexing into city limits — a maneuver the moratorium could not reach once annexation occurred. Woodbury County's county seat is Sioux City.
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In effect
Boone County IN One-Year Data Center Moratorium
Boone County, IN · Effective 2026-06-16 · Unanimous BOC vote
The Boone County (IN) Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on new data-center development in unincorporated parts of the county. The moratorium took effect June 16, 2026 and runs through June 15, 2027 to allow study of land-use, infrastructure, utility, agricultural, and rural-character impacts. Meta's existing LEAP-district data center campus (annexed into the city of Lebanon before construction) is not affected. Boone became the 12th Indiana county to impose a data-center moratorium.
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In effect
Cumberland County NC Six-Month Data Center Moratorium
Cumberland County, NC · Effective 2026-06-15 · Six-month moratorium adopted 2026-06-15 by 7-0 vote
On June 15, 2026, the Cumberland County (NC) Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 to adopt a six-month data-center moratorium running through December 15, 2026. The moratorium covers unincorporated areas only; data centers proposed inside Fayetteville city limits are not affected. The moratorium pauses new data-center construction while county staff and commissioners develop a regulatory ordinance.
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In effect
Walton County FL data center ban (eff. June 10, 2026)
Walton County, FL · Effective 2026-06-10 · Walton County, FL ordinance (5-0, June 10, 2026) prohibiting data centers and large load centers countywide
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.
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In effect
Troup County GA Data Center Ordinance
Troup County, GA · Effective 2026-05-08 · Troup County, Ga., data-center zoning text amendment (adopted May 8, 2026, unanimous)
On May 8, 2026, the Troup County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a data-center zoning ordinance for unincorporated Troup County and lifted its earlier moratorium. All data centers must obtain a special-use permit; average and hyperscale data centers are limited to heavy-industrial zoning, while small data centers (5,000 sq ft or smaller) may locate in light- or heavy-industrial zones. The 17-page ordinance requires a 1,500-foot setback, Tier 4 diesel backup generators (rather than Tier 2) to cut noise and emissions, connection to public sewer, solar-ready roof structures, and post-operation low- and high-frequency noise studies.
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In effect
Cass County IN Data Center Ban
Cass County, IN · Effective 2026-04-22 · Cass County, Ind., Comm-Ord-2026-08 (Data Processing), Bd. of Comm'rs (Apr. 22, 2026) — bars data centers countywide
On April 22, 2026, the three Cass County Commissioners voted unanimously to prohibit data centers throughout the county, blocking data-processing uses from every zoning district. The county Plan Commission recommended the ban because Cass County had no established standards for data centers and wanted to prevent development until (or unless) rules are written. Cass is one of two Indiana counties — with Marshall County — reported to have banned new data centers outright as of mid-2026.
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In effect
Marshall County Data Center Ban
Marshall County, IN · Effective 2026-04-20 · Marshall County, Ind., Bd. of Comm'rs ordinance (Apr. 20, 2026)
On April 20, 2026, Marshall County commissioners enacted a permanent, countywide ban on data centers, effective immediately, replacing an earlier one-year moratorium. County leaders cited long-term strain on electricity and water supplies and loss of farmland — possibly the first permanent county data center ban in Indiana.
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In effect
Athens-Clarke County GA Data Center Regulations
Athens-Clarke County, GA · Effective 2026-04-07 · Moratorium adopted 2025-12-02; extended 2026-03-10; lifted and replaced by ordinance unanimously 2026-04-07
On December 2, 2025, the Athens-Clarke County Commission adopted a temporary moratorium on new data centers (running through the first Tuesday in March 2026), extended in March 2026 for an additional three months. On April 7, 2026, the Commission voted unanimously to lift the moratorium and replace it with a set of data-center regulations. Athens-Clarke is a consolidated city-county government in Georgia.
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In effect
Fulton County IN One-Year Data Center Moratorium
Fulton County, IN · Effective 2026-03-03 · Adopted 2026-03-03 by Commissioners (2-1 vote)
On March 3, 2026, the Fulton County (IN) Commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a one-year moratorium on data-center construction, effective immediately. Commissioners Bryan Lewis and a second commissioner voted in favor; Commissioner Dave Sommers was the lone dissenter. The Area Plan Commission had recommended the moratorium 6-2 earlier. The moratorium was triggered by a proposed 300-acre campus in the town of Akron. A data-center committee will study impacts during the pause.
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In effect
Starke County IN Ordinance 2025-37
Starke County, IN · Effective 2025-12-15 · Ordinance 2025-37
Starke County (IN) Ordinance 2025-37, a 12-month moratorium on hyperscale data centers, was unanimously approved by the Starke County Commissioners on December 15, 2025 after the Planning Commission's unanimous recommendation on December 4, 2025. The ordinance defines 'Hyperscale Data Center Project' as any structure or complex exceeding 5,000 sq ft in total floor area primarily for housing data-processing equipment, servers, or related cooling/energy/communications infrastructure. Local businesses and hospitals may still construct supplementary data centers under 5,000 sq ft.
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In effect
Stafford County VA Data Center Ordinance O25-29(R)
Stafford County, VA · Effective 2025-12-02 · O25-29 (initial) adopted 2025-10-21; O25-29(R) (with grandfathering) adopted 2025-12-02
Stafford County Ordinance O25-29(R) — 'An Ordinance to Amend and to Reordain Stafford County Code Sec. 28-39 Special Regulations Regarding Data Centers' — was adopted December 2, 2025. The companion Comprehensive Plan amendment (R25-208) had been approved October 21, 2025 by a 4-2-1 vote. The headline provision: new data-center buildings must be set back 750 ft from adjacent homes, schools, or the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers (vs. the prior 100-ft setback). Five previously-approved projects (Stafford Technology Campus, Potomac Church Tech Center, Centreport Gateway/Pemberton, Vantage VA-4/Melrod, Cranes Corner) were unanimously grandfathered.
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In effect
Johnson County IA One-Year Data Center Moratorium
Johnson County, IA · Effective 2025-11-08 · One-year moratorium adopted unanimously by Johnson County BoS on or about 2025-11-08
In November 2025, the Johnson County (IA) Board of Supervisors unanimously and without debate adopted a one-year moratorium on rezoning applications, site plans, and building permits for data centers in unincorporated Johnson County. The moratorium expires November 8, 2026. The moratorium does not affect Iowa City, North Liberty, or Coralville (incorporated cities within the county). Stated rationale was concern about energy and water resources in unincorporated areas.
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In effect
James City County VA Data Center Ordinance & Policy
James City County, VA · Effective 2025-09-09 · Zoning ordinance updated September 2025 (closer to Sept 9 per WHRO 2025-09-10 report)
In September 2025, the James City County Board of Supervisors approved zoning ordinance updates and a companion policy for data centers. The ordinance formally defines data centers, reclassifies them as industrial uses, and removes them from M-1 and Mixed Use districts. A November 2025 companion policy discourages data centers from connecting to public water systems or using well water for cooling, requires closed-loop cooling systems, and imposes up to 100-ft buffers along public rights-of-way with at least 45% evergreen tree mix.
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Expired
Clayton County GA Resolution 2025-193
Clayton County, GA · Effective 2025-09-09 · Resolution 2025-193 (initial moratorium, unanimous, through 2025-12-31)
Clayton County Resolution 2025-193, adopted unanimously, placed a moratorium on the acceptance of applications for special land use permits, rezonings, land disturbance permits, building permits, licenses, and certificates of occupancy for new and expanding data centers in unincorporated Clayton County through December 31, 2025. On December 16, 2025, the Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to extend the moratorium up to six months — through June 29, 2026 — pending revision of the county's zoning ordinance. Vice Chair Alaina Reaves was the lead sponsor.
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In effect
Henrico County VA Data Center Comprehensive Plan Amendment
Henrico County, VA · Effective 2025-06-10 · Data Center Comprehensive Plan Amendment adopted 2025-06-10 as appendix to Vision 2026
On June 10, 2025, the Henrico County Board of Supervisors adopted the Data Center Comprehensive Plan Amendment, incorporated as an appendix to the Vision 2026 Comprehensive Plan. The amendment ends by-right data-center development in most industrial and business zones, requires Provisional Use Permit (PUP) review for new stand-alone data centers (Planning Commission + BOS public hearings), imposes a 500-ft residential setback, and requires noise studies both prior to construction and prior to certificate of occupancy.
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In effect
Loudoun County VA Data Center Standards & Locations Phase 1
Loudoun County, VA · Effective 2025-03-18 · CPAM-2024-0001 + ZOAM-2024-0001, adopted 2025-03-18 (vote 7-2)
On March 18, 2025, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved the Phase 1 Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPAM-2024-0001) and Zoning Ordinance Amendment (ZOAM-2024-0001) by a 7-2 vote (Umstattd and Kershner dissenting). The amendments designate data centers a conditional use in the 2019 General Plan and require Special Exception (SPEX) approval for data center uses in the Industrial Park (IP), General Industry (GI), and Mineral Resources-Heavy Industry (MR-HI) zoning districts, eliminating by-right approval. The Board also approved a grandfathering resolution exempting applications filed before Feb. 12, 2025 that are >500 ft from residential and are diligently pursued.
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In effect
DeSoto County FL 1-year data center moratorium (DCIP exemption)
DeSoto County, FL · Effective 2026-07-29 · DeSoto County, FL Board of County Commissioners data center moratorium (adopted 4-0, July 29, 2026; one commissioner recused)
The DeSoto County, Florida Board of County Commissioners voted 4-0 on July 29, 2026 (with the fifth commissioner recused) to impose a one-year moratorium on acceptance, processing, review, and approval of all data center applications, running through approximately July 29, 2027. The vote came after months of intense public opposition to a massive proposed data center campus. The moratorium contains a significant exemption: it does NOT apply to rezoning applications tied to DCIP Group's existing project at a decommissioned power plant site, where DCIP had already received rezoning for 34 acres in March 2026 and had applied for over 800 additional acres as part of a planned 1,300-acre, 12-facility campus.
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In effect
Montgomery County MD 18-month data center moratorium
Montgomery County, MD · Effective 2026-07-28 · Montgomery County, MD, Expedited Bill 19-26 and companion Zoning Text Amendment (adopted 11-0, July 28, 2026)
The Montgomery County, Maryland County Council voted unanimously 11-0 on July 28, 2026 to impose an 18-month moratorium on the issuance of any data center permits by the Department of Permitting Services. The moratorium runs through approximately January 28, 2028. The council simultaneously approved a Zoning Text Amendment permanently blocking any data center larger than 25 megawatts from being built in the county. The 18-month duration was a compromise between shorter and longer proposals. County Executive Marc Elrich had previously issued a 6-month executive-order moratorium in June 2026, and the council action codifies and extends that pause. Montgomery County includes Bethesda, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Rockville; it is the most populous county in Maryland and a significant corridor for data center development interest in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC.
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In effect
Paulding County GA data center moratorium through January 1, 2027
Paulding County, GA · Effective 2026-07-28 · Paulding County, GA Board of Commissioners, unanimous data center moratorium through January 1, 2027 (July 28, 2026)
The Paulding County, Georgia Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on July 28, 2026 to impose a moratorium on new data center applications, zoning requests, and civil plan reviews through January 1, 2027. The unanimous decision followed months of resident protests over proposed data centers in residential-adjacent areas. Local officials will use the temporary freeze to overhaul the county's land-use codes and evaluate safety guidelines for large-scale technology facilities. Paulding County is in the northwest Atlanta metropolitan area and had seen multiple data center proposals prompting community concern.
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In effect
Monroe County WI data center + battery storage moratorium (2026)
Monroe County, WI · Effective 2026-07-21 · Monroe County, Wis. Board of Supervisors resolution (2026-07-21); packet designation 07-26-04
Acting under Wis. Stat. § 59.69(4), the Monroe County Board of Supervisors enacted a moratorium on the receipt of applications for, and the granting of, all zoning-related permits for the placement or construction of Battery Storage Facilities and Medium and Large Scale Data Centers and related land use. Medium Scale Data Centers are defined as up to 3,000 square feet with power demand of 10 MW or less, including colocation facilities and potentially bitcoin or cryptocurrency mining; Large Scale as over 3,000 square feet with more than 10 MW. Small Scale Data Centers — single-organization onsite facilities under 500 kW with no crypto mining — are defined separately and fall outside the operative scope. A Battery Storage Facility is any site housing a collection of interconnected batteries designed to accumulate electrical energy from various sources for later use, so the measure is materially broader than data centers alone.
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In effect
Cherokee County GA data center moratorium (30-day; 180-day extension hearing Aug 18)
Cherokee County, GA · Effective 2026-07-21 · Cherokee County, GA Board of Commissioners, unanimous 30-day data center moratorium (July 21, 2026); 180-day extension public hearing August 18, 2026
The Cherokee County, Georgia Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on July 21, 2026 to impose an initial 30-day moratorium on new data center applications, zoning requests, and development permits in unincorporated county areas. A public hearing is scheduled for August 18, 2026 to consider a 180-day extension, which would extend the moratorium through approximately February 2027. Cherokee County Community Development Director Brantley Day said the county has no data center applications currently under review and wants staff time to develop appropriate regulations before any arrive. Cherokee County is in the north Atlanta metro area and had seen multiple data center proposals across the region.
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In effect
LaGrange County IN Data Center Moratorium (effective 2026)
LaGrange County, IN · Effective 2026-07-20 · LaGrange County, Ind., data-center & BESS moratorium (Plan Commission rec.; commissioners approved process ~June 30, 2026; documentation due July 20, 2026)
The LaGrange County, Indiana Board of Commissioners adopted a one-year moratorium on data-center development — and on battery energy storage systems — at their July 20, 2026 meeting. The moratorium gives the county time to write proper regulations. County Attorney Kurt Bachman previously framed the effort as managing data centers rather than keeping them out. The Plan Commission had recommended the moratorium in late June 2026.
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In effect
Palm Beach County FL Project Tango denial (July 16, 2026)
Palm Beach County, FL · Effective 2026-07-16 · Palm Beach County, FL Board of County Commissioners 5-1 denial without prejudice, July 16, 2026, Project Tango 600MW data center campus
Palm Beach County, Florida commissioners rejected 'Project Tango,' a proposed 600-megawatt AI data center campus in the Loxahatchee area, by a 5-1 vote on July 16, 2026 after a marathon hearing lasting about 12 hours. The denial was 'without prejudice,' meaning the developer can come back with a revised application. The county's zoning commission had already recommended against the project on July 2. Note: a previously approved 202-acre Central Park Commerce Center project still allows some data center space in the county.
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In effect
Hamilton County TN 1-year data center moratorium (eff. July 15, 2026)
Hamilton County · Effective 2026-07-15 · Hamilton County (TN) Commission, one-year data center moratorium (>1 MW), unincorporated areas (adopted July 15, 2026)
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.
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In effect
Franklin County FL 1-year data center moratorium (eff. July 15, 2026)
Franklin County, FL · Effective 2026-07-15 · Franklin County, FL Board of County Commissioners unanimous vote, July 15, 2026, 1-year AI data center moratorium
Franklin County, Florida — a small Panhandle coastal county (Apalachicola) — unanimously adopted a one-year moratorium on AI data centers on July 15, 2026. Commissioners indicated they would like to pursue a permanent ban eventually.
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In effect
Newberry County SC 12-month data center moratorium (confirmed July 15, 2026)
Newberry County, SC · Effective 2026-07-15 · Newberry County, SC Council unanimous final confirmation, July 15, 2026, 12-month data center permit moratorium
Newberry County, South Carolina finalized a year-long moratorium on data center permits on July 15, 2026, with a unanimous county council confirmation vote. The moratorium first passed in June 2026 and blocks new data center permits while the county studies regulations.
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In effect
Pasco County FL 1-year data center moratorium (eff. July 14, 2026)
Pasco County, FL · Effective 2026-07-14 · Pasco County, FL Board of County Commissioners action, July 14, 2026, 1-year moratorium on data centers >2.5MW
Pasco County, Florida (north of Tampa) adopted a one-year moratorium on July 14, 2026 covering large data centers — those that would use more than 2.5 megawatts of power. The county will use the year to develop regulations for data center siting.
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In effect
Early County GA data center ordinance (eff. July 13, 2026)
Early County, GA · Effective 2026-07-13 · Early County, GA Board of Commissioners data center ordinance, adopted July 13, 2026
Early County, Georgia adopted a data center ordinance on July 13, 2026 in response to resident concerns. The ordinance requires data centers to sit at least 1,000 feet from neighboring uses, meet noise standards, and use water-efficient cooling systems.
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In effect
St. Charles County MO 6-month data center moratorium (eff. July 13, 2026)
St. Charles County, MO · Effective 2026-07-13 · St. Charles County, MO unanimous vote, July 13, 2026, 6-month moratorium on data centers >100,000 sq ft or >5MW
St. Charles County, Missouri (St. Louis suburbs) unanimously imposed a six-month moratorium on large data center projects on July 13, 2026. The pause covers projects bigger than 100,000 square feet or drawing more than 5 megawatts of power.
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In effect
Missoula County MT interim data center moratorium (eff. July 9, 2026)
Missoula County, MT · Effective 2026-07-09 · Missoula County, MT interim zoning moratorium on data centers, adopted July 9, 2026 (up to one year)
Missoula County became the first county in Montana to pause data center development, adopting a temporary interim zoning moratorium on July 9, 2026. The pause can last up to one year and applies to the unincorporated county — not inside the City of Missoula. The county must begin studying data center regulations within 30 days.
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In effect
Prince George's County MD 2-year data center moratorium
Prince George's County, MD · Effective 2026-07-08 · Prince George's County, MD, County Council 2-year hyperscale data center moratorium (adopted July 7–8, 2026)
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.
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In effect
Sarasota County FL hyperscale data center moratorium (eff. July 8, 2026)
Sarasota County, FL · Effective 2026-07-08 · Sarasota County, FL Board of County Commissioners action, July 8, 2026, 12-month hyperscale (>=50MW) data center moratorium
Sarasota County, Florida blocked hyperscale data centers — facilities drawing 50 megawatts of power or more — for at least one year, starting July 8, 2026. The county will use the pause to write rules for large data centers before any can be approved.
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In effect
Douglas County GA data center rezoning denial (July 8, 2026)
Douglas County, GA · Effective 2026-07-08 · Douglas County, GA Board of Commissioners rezoning denial (4-1), July 8, 2026, 4.4M sq ft data center project
Douglas County, Georgia commissioners voted 4-1 on July 8, 2026 to reject a rezoning that would have allowed a 4.4 million-square-foot data center campus. It was the county's second rejection of a major data center project in seven months, signaling sustained resistance to large-scale data center development in the metro-Atlanta county.
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In effect
Terrell County GA 6-month data center moratorium
Terrell County, GA · Effective 2026-07-07 · Terrell County, Ga., Board of Commissioners six-month data center moratorium (adopted ~July 7, 2026, unanimous)
Terrell County, Georgia's Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a six-month moratorium on new data center development, following the lead of neighboring Lee County. The pause gives county officials time to develop zoning regulations governing where data centers may locate, and how they must operate. Terrell County is in Southwest Georgia, near Albany in the Albany metropolitan area. The moratorium can be extended if additional time is needed to complete a permanent ordinance.
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In effect
Hamblen County TN AI Datacenter Moratorium
Hamblen County, TN · Effective 2026-07-06 · Hamblen County, TN Commission AI Datacenter Moratorium (adopted July 6, 2026)
Hamblen County, Tennessee commissioners voted on July 6, 2026 to enact a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in the county. The moratorium is officially labeled 'AI Datacenter Moratorium' on the Hamblen County government website — one of the few local governments in the data-center wave to explicitly name 'AI' in the title of the moratorium rather than referring only to 'data centers.' The pause is part of a broader wave of Tennessee county action against data center development.
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In effect
Linn County IA 18-month data-center moratorium (2026)
Linn County, Iowa · Effective 2026-07-01 · Linn County (IA) Board of Supervisors Resolution — 18-month EU-3 data-center rezoning moratorium (July 1, 2026)
Linn County, Iowa (home to Cedar Rapids) voted 2-1 on July 1, 2026 to impose an 18-month moratorium pausing all new EU-3 Large-Scale Data Center Zoning District rezoning applications in unincorporated areas of the county. The moratorium is effective immediately through January 1, 2028, and gives the county time to conduct a comprehensive planning process to address data center siting, water use, energy consumption, and community impact. Note: this is a separate and additional measure from the existing Linn County data-center zoning ordinance (February 2026), which established the EU-3 zone; this moratorium pauses NEW rezoning requests under that zone.
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In effect
Linn County IA EU-3 rezoning moratorium (2026)
Linn County, IA · Effective 2026-07-01 · Linn County, Iowa resolution (adopted 2026-07-01); number not assigned in the posted copy
The resolution establishes a moratorium on the acceptance for filing and processing of new applications to rezone property into the EU-3 Large-Scale Data Center District. It does NOT ban data center construction and does not repeal or suspend the county's existing data center zoning ordinance (PA26-0001, adopted 2026-02-18) — it freezes the rezoning pathway into EU-3 while the county completes technical studies, coordinates with municipalities, utility providers, regional planning organizations, emergency management and state and federal agencies, gathers public input, and evaluates amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan. It expressly preserves the Board's ability to later consider amendments allowing data centers as accessory or supportive uses to nuclear energy generating facilities in the EU-2 district.
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In effect
Shenandoah County VA First Data Center Zoning Ordinance
Shenandoah County, VA · Effective 2026-06-23 · Shenandoah County, VA Board of Supervisors 6-0 vote, June 23, 2026, data center special use zoning ordinance
On June 23, 2026, the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors voted 6-0 to adopt the county's first data-center zoning ordinance, following a 6-1 Planning Commission recommendation in early June 2026. The ordinance strikes by-right data center development in industrial districts and substitutes a special use permit process requiring a public hearing. County officials had noted during the process that a moratorium would not survive legal challenge under a 1978 AG opinion and 2001 Virginia Supreme Court precedent. Less than 1% of Shenandoah County is currently zoned industrial.
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In effect
Jackson County MO 180-day data center + BESS moratorium (eff. June 22, 2026)
Jackson County, MO · Effective 2026-06-22 · Jackson County, MO Legislature action, June 22, 2026, 180-day data center and BESS land-use application moratorium (unincorporated areas)
The Jackson County, Missouri Legislature (the Kansas City-area county) imposed a 180-day moratorium on June 22, 2026 on processing land-use applications for data centers and battery energy storage systems in the county's unincorporated areas. Cities within the county are not affected.
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In effect
Geary County KS 12-month data center moratorium
Geary County, KS · Effective 2026-06-22 · Geary County, KS County Commission — 12-Month Moratorium on Data Centers and Alternative Energy Facilities (unanimous, June 22, 2026)
The Geary County, Kansas County Commission voted unanimously on June 22, 2026 to impose a 12-month moratorium on data centers and alternative energy facilities — including nuclear and hydrogen plants — in unincorporated areas of the county. The moratorium was presented by GIS/Planning and Zoning Director Troy Livingston, who explained the county needs time to study infrastructure, water, and power impacts of the proposed facilities before deciding whether to write permanent regulations, enact a ban, or take another approach. The planning commission will meet monthly during the moratorium period to develop potential regulations. Geary County's county seat is Junction City; the county is in north-central Kansas adjacent to Fort Riley.
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In effect
Butler County OH 6-Month Data Center Moratorium
Butler County, OH · Effective 2026-06-16 · Six-month moratorium covering Hanover, Lemon, Madison, Milford, Oxford, and Ross townships only
The Butler County (OH) Board of Commissioners adopted a six-month moratorium on data centers in the six townships under its zoning control: Hanover, Lemon, Madison, Milford, Oxford, and Ross. The moratorium temporarily prohibits 'approval, establishment, or the granting or issuance of any permit for any data center' within those townships. Commissioner Don Dixon proposed the measure citing infrastructure and resource capacity concerns. The other seven Butler County townships, six cities, and four villages set their own zoning and were not covered.
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In effect
Madison County IN Six-Month Data Center Moratorium
Madison County, IN · Effective 2026-06-16 · Six-month moratorium adopted by Commissioners June 16, 2026
The Madison County (IN) Commissioners approved a six-month moratorium on data centers, with an option to extend an additional six months. The county Plan Commission gave a favorable recommendation (specific vote tally unconfirmed). The action made Madison County the 9th Indiana county to enact a data-center moratorium. No data-center proposals had been submitted in Madison County at the time of adoption.
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In effect
Coweta County GA second 180-day data center moratorium
Coweta County, GA · Effective 2026-06-16 · Coweta County, GA Board of Commissioners, unanimous second 180-day data center moratorium (June 16, 2026)
The Coweta County, Georgia Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on June 16, 2026 to impose a second 180-day moratorium on new data center applications and proposals. The moratorium runs through approximately December 13, 2026 and provides the county additional time to evaluate whether to further revise its data center regulations. Coweta County had adopted a first 180-day moratorium in May 2025, then a permanent UDO amendment restricting data centers to light-industrial and industrial zones in December 2025; the June 2026 moratorium follows continuing community pressure for stronger protections. County seat is Newnan, GA.
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In effect
Imperial County Data Center Moratorium (45-day, adopted June 16, 2026)
Imperial County, CA · Effective 2026-06-16 · Imperial County, Cal., urgency interim ordinance (adopted June 16, 2026)
Imperial County, California's Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on June 16, 2026 to pause new data center development in unincorporated areas for at least 45 days, with the option to extend for up to roughly 11 months. The board simultaneously created a new advisory committee tasked with recommending permanent zoning rules by January 2027. The action came after months of community opposition over energy and water consumption concerns from data center proposals in the desert region.
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In effect
Chester County SC data center pause (2026)
Chester County, SC · Effective 2026-06-15 · Chester County, S.C. Ordinance No. 2026-14
Ordinance No. 2026-14 bars any Chester County official, employee, board or commission from accepting, processing or approving any application for a Data Center Development. Section 2 defines that term to include rezonings, planned developments, text or map amendments, special exceptions, variances, subdivisions, site plans, land development, utility and building permit approvals for data centers, server farms, colocation facilities, cryptocurrency or digital asset mining operations, and artificial intelligence computing facilities. Section 4 directs planning staff and outside experts to prepare use-specific standards covering permitted districts, separation, setbacks, screening, buffering, electric and water adequacy, noise limits, and decommissioning and financial assurance. Section 9 adopts the pending ordinance doctrine, applies the ordinance from first reading, and terminates it on the earlier of repeal or 2026-12-31 unless extended.
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In effect
Boone County Data Center Moratorium
Boone County, IN · Effective 2026-06-15 · Boone County, Ind., Board of Commissioners data center moratorium (June 15, 2026; 12-month term)
Boone County, Indiana's Board of Commissioners unanimously voted on June 15, 2026 to impose a one-year moratorium on new data center development in unincorporated areas of the county. The pause halts the filing, processing, review, and acceptance of applications for new data center facilities so county officials can evaluate impacts on infrastructure and update planning and zoning rules. The moratorium does NOT affect Meta's existing data center campus in the LEAP Innovation District — that site sits on land annexed by the City of Lebanon and is outside unincorporated Boone County.
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In effect
Six-month data-center permit moratorium (Montgomery County, MD)
Montgomery County, Maryland · Effective 2026-06-12 · Montgomery County (MD) County Executive Executive Order — six-month data-center permit moratorium (signed ~June 12, 2026)
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.
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In effect
McLean County Data Center Rules
McLean County, IL · Effective 2026-06-11 · McLean County, Ill., zoning text amendment (adopted June 11, 2026)
McLean County, Illinois — home to large planned data center campuses near Bloomington-Normal — adopted stricter zoning rules for data centers on June 11, 2026. Facility owners must identify and address impacts to roads, emergency services, and utilities; document planned water use, sources, groundwater effects, and wastewater handling; monitor and document electricity consumption; provide specialized training or equipment for the local fire protection district; and file a decommissioning plan with costs for restoring the site when the data center closes.
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In effect
Floyd County GA 80-Day Data Center Moratorium
Floyd County, GA · Effective 2026-06-10 · 80-day moratorium adopted unanimously 2026-06-10 by Floyd County Commission
On June 10, 2026, the Floyd County Commission unanimously approved an 80-day moratorium on permits for new and expanded data centers, effective immediately. Previously-approved permits may proceed. The moratorium preserves time for a proposed ordinance that will require each future project to be considered by the commission after public hearing; the Planning Commission is expected to recommend the substantive ordinance by late August 2026.
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In effect
DeKalb County GA data-center moratorium (through Mar 30, 2027)
DeKalb County, Georgia · Effective 2026-06-09 · DeKalb County (GA) data-center moratorium extension through March 30, 2027 (adopted July 7, 2026)
DeKalb County, Georgia's moratorium on new data centers has been extended repeatedly. Most recently, on July 7, 2026, commissioners voted to extend the freeze through March 30, 2027 — the longest extension yet. The July extension followed a surprise June 23, 2026 commission vote to reject a set of proposed permanent data-center regulations from the Planning & Sustainability Department. That rejection reset the regulatory process, requiring a new attempt at permanent rules. The new extension directs the county CEO to coordinate departments (Public Safety, Transportation, Watershed Management, Public Health) to identify impacts on their operations. Originally enacted July 2025, extended December 2025, June 9, 2026, and again July 7, 2026.
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In effect
DeKalb County GA Data Center Moratorium (latest extension to Sept 30, 2026)
DeKalb County, GA · Effective 2026-06-09 · Item 2025-1694 extension; further 100-day extension 2026-06-09 (2026-06-09)
Blocks issuance of new data center licenses/permits countywide pending Chapter 27 text amendment establishing definitions and standards (industrial-only, special land use permit).
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In effect
Socorro County Data Center Moratorium
Socorro County, NM · Effective 2026-06-09 · Socorro County, N.M., Board of Commissioners data center moratorium (adopted June 9, 2026; one-year)
Socorro County, New Mexico commissioners voted unanimously on June 9, 2026 to impose a one-year moratorium on data centers and related infrastructure on unincorporated county land. More than 80 residents packed the hearing and applauded the vote, following months of opposition to a Canadian company's proposal to build a data center and solar array on roughly 10,000 acres. The moratorium also creates an advisory committee of experts and residents to study impacts and recommend permanent regulations.
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In effect
Coffee County Data Center Moratorium
Coffee County, TN · Effective 2026-06-09 · Coffee County, Tenn., Commission data center moratorium (June 9, 2026; 12-month term)
Coffee County, Tennessee commissioners unanimously passed a 12-month moratorium on data centers on June 9, 2026, giving the county time to amend its Agricultural District zoning language before a large data center could arrive under current rules. County Mayor Dennis Hunt said existing agricultural zoning would permit a data center without restrictions, and wanted to prevent that. The day after passage, the county planning commission met to discuss potential zoning updates including building height limits, well usage, environmental testing, light-pollution restrictions, and distance requirements from residences, farms, and water sources.
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In effect
Otoe County NE Up-to-One-Year Data Center Moratorium
Otoe County, NE · Effective 2026-05-23 · Moratorium of up to one year suspending data-center permits
On May 19, 2026, Otoe County (NE) commissioners adopted a moratorium of up to one year suspending permits needed for new data-center construction in the county. Board Chairman Jerad Sornson appointed a zoning review committee (including Commissioner Chuck Cole) to examine the issue and revise existing regulations. Otoe was among the first Nebraska counties to enact such a measure; Madison County NE already had special permit requirements and Gage County had a moratorium hearing scheduled for June 2026.
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In effect
Des Moines County IA 1-year data center moratorium
Des Moines County, IA · Effective 2026-05-19 · Des Moines County, IA Board of Supervisors, Resolution 2026-034 (reported) — 1-year data center moratorium (May 19, 2026)
The Des Moines County (IA) Board of Supervisors voted on May 19, 2026 to impose a one-year moratorium on the acceptance and approval of data center permit applications in unincorporated parts of the county. The moratorium scope expressly includes cryptocurrency mining operations as well as conventional data centers. The moratorium runs through approximately May 19, 2027. Des Moines County is in southeastern Iowa; its county seat is Burlington. Resolution 2026-034 was reported in aggregated meeting coverage but has not yet been independently confirmed from the official county government source.
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Repealed / replaced
Hill County TX 1-Year Data Center & Energy Storage Moratorium (ADOPTED May 12, R
Hill County, TX · Effective 2026-05-12 · BoC resolution (rescinded) (2026-05-12)
First Texas county moratorium pausing new data center and energy storage construction in unincorporated areas for up to one year; rescinded June 5, 2026 after $100M developer lawsuit and replaced by developer checklist.
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In effect
Miami County IN data center moratorium (2026)
Miami County, IN · Effective 2026-05-04 · Miami County, Ind., Ordinance No. 05-04-2026 (Bd. of Comm'rs, adopted May 4, 2026)
The Board of Commissioners imposed a temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing, and approval of all applications and permits for data center construction or operation anywhere in unincorporated Miami County, effective immediately on adoption. It stays in effect until the county's Zoning Ordinance is amended to add rules specifically covering data centers — the Zoning Ordinance currently has none.
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In effect
Orange County NC one-year data center moratorium (Apr 2026)
Orange County, NC · Effective 2026-04-22 · Orange County NC BOC moratorium resolution (April 22, 2026)
Orange County NC Board of County Commissioners voted 6-0 in April 2026 to enact a one-year moratorium on new data center approvals, pausing acceptance and processing of permits while the county studies long-term data center zoning regulations.
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Proposed / pending
Tippecanoe County IN Large Data Center Special Exception Amendment
Tippecanoe County, IN · Effective 2026-04-15 · APC ordinance committee recommendation 2026
The Tippecanoe County Area Plan Commission's ordinance committee voted to forward an amendment treating 'large data centers' of 10,000 sq ft or more as allowable in I-2 industrial districts only by special exception, with a one-year (November 30) sunset to allow drafting of permanent performance standards. The full APC subsequently adopted the temporary rules — action is no longer merely pending.
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In effect
Warren County VA
Warren County, VA · Effective 2026-04-15 · Warren County Zoning Text Amendment (application filed 2026-04-15; public hearing scheduled 2026-07-08) (2026-04-15)
Removes by-right data-center development; requires a special-use permit in industrial zones with site-specific noise, lighting, water-use, and 300-ft residential setback conditions; bans data centers in agricultural districts.
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In effect
Cochise County AZ Ordinance 26-09 (Data Center Standards)
Cochise County, AZ · Effective 2026-04-07 · Cochise County, Ariz., Ordinance No. 26-09 (adopted April 7, 2026)
Cochise County, Arizona's Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 on April 7, 2026 to adopt Ordinance 26-09, the county's first regulatory framework for data centers. The ordinance defines data centers in county code for the first time and requires all facilities to obtain a Special Use Authorization in designated zoning districts. Applicants must submit noise impact analyses, water use plans, and proof that they will not adversely affect existing utility users; most uses of potable water for server cooling are prohibited.
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In effect
Grant County PUD WA Unbundled Rate Restructure + Data Center Load Caps
Grant County, WA · Effective 2026-04-01 · PUD Commission approval 2026-01-27 (2026-04-01)
Commission approved unbundled rate structure stripping data centers of cheap Priest Rapids hydro access. Industrial rates rise 8-11% April 2026, 9.5%/yr through 2036. Separate load-growth caps on DC customers.
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In effect
Shenandoah County VA
Shenandoah County, VA · Effective 2026-03-24 · Shenandoah BoS resolution 2026-03-24 (2026-03-24)
One-year pause on accepting and processing data-center rezoning, special-use, and site-plan applications while county drafts use-specific standards covering noise, water, and rural-character impacts.
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In effect
Rockdale County GA Data Center & BESS Moratorium (extended through Sept 8, 2026)
Rockdale County, GA · Effective 2026-03-15 · BOC resolution (extension) (2026-03-15)
Moratorium on acceptance, processing, and approval of applications for establishment/expansion of data centers and battery energy storage systems pending zoning and infrastructure review.
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In effect
Carroll County GA Data Center Moratorium
Carroll County, GA · Effective 2026-03-03 · Carroll County, Ga., Bd. of Comm'rs 100-day data center/BESS moratorium (adopted Mar. 3, 2026, 7-0; extended 7-0 June 2, 2026)
On March 3, 2026, the Carroll County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 to adopt a 100-day moratorium on permits for data centers, battery energy storage systems, and other new technology facilities in unincorporated Carroll County. On June 2, 2026 the board voted 7-0 to extend it for another 100 days (running to about Sept. 10, 2026). The pause gives county staff time to study how these facilities affect the county's zoning and ordinances. It applies only to unincorporated areas and does not affect the county's municipalities.
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In effect
Hall County GA 180-day data center moratorium
Hall County, GA · Effective 2026-02-26 · Hall County, GA Board of Commissioners data center moratorium (adopted unanimously 4-0, February 26, 2026)
The Hall County, Georgia Board of Commissioners voted unanimously 4-0 on February 26, 2026 to impose a 180-day moratorium on data centers, high-density residential developments, and detention centers in unincorporated Hall County. The moratorium expires approximately August 25, 2026, and is extendable per Chairman David Gibbs. The county has been directing its planning department to draft a permanent Data Center Ordinance to govern siting, infrastructure, and other requirements after the moratorium ends. Hall County's county seat is Gainesville, Georgia.
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In effect
Cobb County GA Temporary Data Center Moratorium (up to 180 days)
Cobb County, GA · Effective 2026-02-25 · Resolution Feb 2026 (2026-02-25) (2026-02-25)
Pauses new data center applications in unincorporated Cobb while staff reviews development regs; does not apply inside Marietta city limits.
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In effect
Henry County GA
Henry County, GA · Effective 2026-02-18 · BoC UDC amendment 2026-02-18 (2026-02-18)
Data centers allowed in M-1 (light manufacturing) and M-2 (heavy manufacturing) zones with a conditional use permit; 1,000-ft setback from any existing residential building, 200-ft undisturbed landscape buffer around the property, 500-ft setback from non-industrial zoning, noise compatibility standards, water-use disclosure, and additional design and screening requirements.
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In effect
Linn County IA Data Center Ordinance for Unincorporated Areas
Linn County, IA · Effective 2026-02-18 · Linn County BOS data center ordinance (3rd consideration approved 2026-02-18) (2026-02-18)
Strict zoning: 1,000-ft residential setbacks; mandatory water study and binding Water Use Agreement; noise/light limits; road/infrastructure compensation; community betterment contribution.
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In effect
Adams County CO Data Center Zoning Standards
Adams County, CO · Effective 2026-01-21 · Adams County Development Standards amendment (2026) (2026-01-21)
Adams County added data-center use standards requiring conditional-use approval, water-resource demonstration, noise study, and substation siting plan; responsive to multiple north-metro Denver data-center proposals.
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In effect
Maricopa County AZ Modernized Zoning Ordinance
Maricopa County, AZ · Effective 2026-01-09 · Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance update unanimously adopted 2025-12-10; effective 2026-01-09
On December 10, 2025, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a comprehensive modernized Zoning Ordinance, effective January 9, 2026. The ordinance defines data centers in Maricopa County zoning for the first time and limits them to two industrial districts: IND-2 (general industrial) and IND-3 (heavy industrial). Land not currently zoned for data centers must go through the county's rezoning process. The update was the first comprehensive revision of the zoning ordinance in decades and followed a nearly six-month stakeholder process with over 160 participants and an online public survey.
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In effect
Bartow County GA Data Center Ordinance (UDO Amendment)
Bartow County, GA · Effective 2026-01-07 · UDO amendment Jan 2026 (2026-01-07)
Allows data centers with 200-ft buffer from property boundary and noise compatibility standards.
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In effect
DeKalb County GA Data Center Moratorium
DeKalb County, GA · Effective 2025-12-16 · Moratorium adopted 2025-12-16; extended to 2026-09-30 by Board of Commissioners vote 2026-06-09 (5-2)
DeKalb County's Board of Commissioners has kept a moratorium on new data centers in place through a series of extensions. It blocks new licenses and permits for data centers while the county works on permanent zoning rules. UPDATE (2026 sweep): on June 9, 2026 the Commission voted 5-2 to extend the moratorium again, to September 30, 2026; on June 23 it deferred the companion Chapter 27 zoning text amendment to August 11, and on June 26 voted 7-0 to reject a proposed data-center regulations package — so the moratorium remains in effect through Sept 30 while permanent rules stay unresolved. The draft Chapter 27 amendment would restrict data centers to industrial areas and add a 500-ft buffer from county parks and trails in M and M-2 districts.
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In effect
Coweta County GA Data Center Ordinance (UDO Amendment)
Coweta County, GA · Effective 2025-12-16 · UDO amendment Dec 2025 (2025-12-16)
Permits data centers only in light-industrial and industrial districts; imposes 300-ft buffer, noise, lighting, traffic, and utility capacity standards.
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In effect
Maricopa County AZ Modernized Zoning Ordinance
Maricopa County, AZ · Effective 2025-12-10 · BoS adoption Dec 10 2025 (2025-12-10)
BoS unanimous adoption. Data centers permitted only in IND-2 (general industrial) and IND-3 (heavy industrial). Other land requires rezoning with suitability review.
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In effect
Spotsylvania County Data Center Design Standards Ordinance
Spotsylvania County, VA · Effective 2025-12-09 · Ordinance 23-190 (2025-12-09)
Adopts 300-ft buffer, 400-ft residential setback, 75-ft height cap, plus force-and-effect grandfather clause for previously approved rezonings.
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Expired
Monroe County GA Data Center Moratorium
Monroe County, GA · Effective 2025-12-01 · Moratorium adopted December 2025 with built-in expiration at first March 2026 commission meeting (set as 2026-03-04 / first Tuesday)
In December 2025, the Monroe County (GA) Board of Commissioners passed a moratorium on new data-center applications. The moratorium was set to lapse at the first commission meeting in March 2026, at which point a new zoning ordinance was to be voted on; the action followed months of public debate over hyperscale data-center proposals in the county.
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In effect
Putnam County IN Data Center Moratorium
Putnam County, IN · Effective 2025-11-17 · Putnam County, Ind., Bd. of Comm'rs 1-yr moratorium on data centers, SMRs, solar & wind (effective Nov. 17, 2025 – Nov. 17, 2026; 2-1)
On November 17, 2025, the Putnam County, Indiana Commissioners voted 2-1 to adopt a one-year moratorium — running through November 17, 2026 — on data centers, small modular nuclear reactors, and solar and wind energy systems in the unincorporated areas of the county. About 100 residents packed the courthouse urging the pause. Commissioners Andy Beck and Tom Helmer voted for it; Rick Woodall was opposed. The county said it would use the year to review its Unified Development Ordinance.
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In effect
Lake County IN Data Center Zoning Standards
Lake County, IN · Effective 2025-10-21 · Lake County IN Zoning Ordinance amendment (2025) (2025-10-21)
Lake County IN (Hammond/Gary corridor) added data-center use category to zoning ordinance: special-use permit required, noise and emissions standards, substation siting disclosure, and water-use disclosure.
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In effect
Stafford County Data Center Zoning Ordinance + Comp Plan Amendment
Stafford County, VA · Effective 2025-10-21 · O25-29 / R25-208 (2025-10-21)
Requires 750-ft setback from residential property lines, 100-ft from commercial; mandates CUP; adds tree-preservation, noise, and buffer rules; grandfathers approvals on or before 2025-10-21.
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In effect
White County IN Data Center Moratorium
White County, IN · Effective 2025-10-20 · White County, Ind., Bd. of Comm'rs data-center moratorium (adopted Oct. 20, 2025, 2-1)
On October 20, 2025, the White County, Indiana Commissioners voted 2-1 to pass a moratorium on data-center developments — among the earliest Indiana counties, after Marshall County, to pause data centers while it develops local regulations. The moratorium's stated duration was not reported in the coverage located.
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Proposed / pending
Loudoun County VA Data Center Standards & Locations Phase 2 Project Plan
Loudoun County, VA · Effective 2025-09-16 · Phase 2 Project Plan approved 2025-09-16
On September 16, 2025, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved the Phase 2 Project Plan for Data Center Standards & Locations, directing staff to draft additional Comprehensive Plan changes and use-specific zoning standards covering substation siting, energy/emissions, and noise. The substantive Phase 2 ZOAM (referenced as ZOAM-2025-0001) was not yet adopted as of June 2026.
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In effect
Forsyth County GA Data Center Regulations (UDC Amendment)
Forsyth County, GA · Effective 2025-09-15 · UDC amendment, Version 131 (November 20, 2025) (2025-09-15)
Prohibits use of county water system for data center cooling; siting guardrails described as effectively eliminating data center / crypto operations.
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In effect
Culpeper County CUP Requirement for Data Centers on Industrial Land (outside Tec
Culpeper County, VA · Effective 2025-09-02 · ZOA 2025-09-02 (2025-09-02)
Requires conditional use permit (CUP) for new data centers on light and heavy industrial land (2,200+ acres on 140 parcels of light industrial; 867 acres heavy industrial) OUTSIDE the Culpeper Technology Zone — data centers in CTZ remain by-right. Does not apply to vested/already-approved projects.
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In effect
Williamson County TX Data Center Subdivision & Infrastructure Standards
Williamson County, TX · Effective 2025-08-19 · Williamson County Commissioners Court, Amended Subdivision Regulations (adopted and effective March 4, 2025)
Williamson County Commissioners Court unanimously adopted amended subdivision regulations on March 4, 2025, adding turn-lane requirements, traffic-impact analysis mandates for larger developments, and water/floodplain provisions. These are general subdivision rules that apply to all large developments including data centers; there is no data-center-specific order requiring substation siting disclosure.
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Expired
Story County IA Data Center Moratorium (Resolution #25-97)
Story County, IA · Effective 2025-06-17 · Initial moratorium 2025-06-17 (expires ≤2025-12-31)
On June 17, 2025, Story County (IA) imposed a temporary moratorium on data-center development in unincorporated areas, with an expiration on or before December 31, 2025. On November 25, 2025, the County Board of Supervisors authorized a one-time extension. The moratorium expired December 31, 2025. On March 17, 2026, the Board adopted Ordinance 330 (case TA26-000002), which covers battery-energy storage systems (BESS) only — the Board expressly removed proposed supplemental data-center standards during deliberations. No permanent data-center ordinance was adopted to replace the moratorium.
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In effect
Spotsylvania County End of By-Right Data-Center Zoning
Spotsylvania County, VA · Effective 2025-03-25 · BoS action December 2025 (Ordinance adopted ~Dec 9, 2025; design guidelines adopted Feb 24, 2026) (2025-03-25)
Adds data centers as Special Use (requiring Planning Commission hearing) in commercial and office zones; data centers remain by-right permitted uses in Industrial 1 (I-1) and Industrial 2 (I-2) districts — by-right development was NOT universally ended.
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Expired
Douglas County GA 90-Day Data Center Moratorium (extended Aug 2025)
Douglas County, GA · Effective 2025-03-15 · BOC resolution (Mar 2025, extended Aug 2025) (2025-03-15)
Halts land-use map amendments, rezonings, SUPs, and variances for data-processing/web-hosting facilities or campuses larger than 50,000 sq ft.
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Expired
Newton County GA Data Center Moratorium (extended through 2025-10-07)
Newton County, GA · Effective 2025-02-17 · BOC resolution (Feb 2025; extended Apr 2025) (2025-02-17)
Moratorium on acceptance/processing of data center applications, rezonings, and SUPs in unincorporated Newton County while a modified UDO is drafted.
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In effect
Umatilla County OR Amazon Greater Enterprise Zone Tax Exemption Agreement
Umatilla County, OR · Effective 2024-10-15 · BoC EZ agreement Oct 2024 (2024-10-15)
BOC granted property tax exemptions to Amazon Data Services Hermiston campus; Amazon to pay $2M/year minimum in lieu of levies, split with Hermiston. Sabey SDC Umatilla also in Enterprise Zone with 5-year 100% exemption.
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In effect
Fairfax County Data Center Zoning Ordinance Amendment
Fairfax County, VA · Effective 2024-09-10 · ZOA (Data Centers, 2024-09-10) (2024-09-10)
Adds use-specific standards for data centers covering noise, building design, and proximity to residential uses; tightens permitted districts.
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In effect
Licking County OH Data Center Water Service Conditions
Licking County, OH · Effective 2024-06-15 · Licking County Water & Wastewater agreements (2024) (2024-06-15)
Licking County entered binding water service agreements requiring data-center developers to fund infrastructure capacity expansion, disclose annual withdrawals, and accept curtailment provisions during drought emergencies.
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In effect
Fauquier Vint Hill PCID Large-Building Special Exception Amendment
Fauquier County, VA · Effective 2024-03-14 · ZOA (March 2024) (2024-03-14)
Requires Board special-exception approval for any building >50,000 sq ft in the Vint Hill PCID, effectively capturing all data centers.
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In effect
Fauquier County Data Center Development Policy Guidance (BP/PCID only)
Fauquier County, VA · Effective 2023-12-14 · BoS Resolution 2023-12-14 (2023-12-14)
Restricts data centers to Business Park and PCID overlay districts and prohibits siting adjacent to residential, parks, schools, or medical uses.
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In effect
Culpeper County Repeal of Brandy Station Technology Zone
Culpeper County, VA · Effective 2023-01-03 · BoS resolution (Jan 3, 2023) (2023-01-03)
Unanimously eliminated the Brandy Station Technology Zone, removing tax incentives for data-center / tech development near Culpeper Battlefields State Park.
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In effect
Lee County GA Data Center Moratorium
Lee County, GA · Lee County, Ga., data-center moratorium; extension to Dec. 31, 2026 considered (WALB, May 27, 2026)
Lee County, Georgia has a moratorium on data-center development that was set to expire in July 2026. At their May 26, 2026 meeting, county commissioners discussed extending the freeze through the end of 2026 to give leaders time to finish a data-center ordinance — described as 'a protection, not an invitation' — that would create a new zoning district specifically for data centers. Officials said there were no pending data-center applications at the time.
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In effect
Worcester County MD data center + cable landing moratorium (2026)
Worcester County, MD · Worcester County, Md. resolution (2026); number blank in the official draft
The resolution imposes a moratorium on the application for or issuance of permits for data centers and cable landing stations in Worcester County, and separately imposes a moratorium on all Board of Zoning Appeals proceedings related to those uses, each for twelve months or until the Commissioners rescind it. It defines a DATA CENTER as one or more buildings used primarily for the storage, management, processing and transmission of digital data. Critically, it separately defines a CABLE LANDING STATION as a facility where subsea cable systems terminate and digital data is transmitted to land-based telecommunications networks, and expressly provides that 'A cable landing station shall not include data storage, management, processing or computation' — a distinct legal category, not a subset of data centers.
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Blocked / in litigation
MD Supreme Court blocks Frederick County DC zoning referendum
Frederick County, MD · Frederick County, Md. data center zoning referendum litigation — Md. Supreme Court, decided 2026-06-30 (written opinion pending at time of coverage)
The Maryland Supreme Court ruled June 30, 2026 that Frederick County's December 2025 approval of a 2,600-acre 'critical digital infrastructure overlay zone' for data centers is not subject to a citizen referendum under the county charter, upholding a lower court and blocking a ballot question more than 21,000 residents had petitioned for. The court also found the proposed ballot question itself legally deficient (unclear map depiction, incomplete ordinance text).
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In effect
Elmore County ID data center moratorium (2026)
Elmore County, ID · Elmore County, Idaho — Board of Commissioners resolution (date not specified in coverage, reported 2026-07-02)
Elmore County Commissioners unanimously approved a 182-day moratorium on new data center permits, citing concerns over water use, noise, land impacts, and the absence of existing regulation for the industry.
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Proposed / pending
Hancock County IN data center overlay district (IG-only, proposed 2026)
Hancock County, IN · Hancock County Plan Commission 7-0 vote (June 8, 2026); advancing to BOC — Greenfield Reporter
Hancock County IN Plan Commission voted 7-0 on June 8, 2026 to approve a data center overlay district restricting new data centers to IG (heavy industrial) zoned parcels only, and advanced the ordinance to the Board of County Commissioners for a vote on June 16, 2026. The commissioner vote outcome remains unconfirmed as of July 1, 2026. A separate study committee was formed in April 2026 with a report due October 2026. Residents had petitioned for a one-year moratorium but the Plan Commission instead developed the overlay district approach.
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In effect
Ida County IA indefinite data center moratorium
Ida County, IA · Ida County, IA, Board of Supervisors, indefinite data center moratorium (unanimous vote, late June 2026; per Radio Iowa July 13, 2026 reporting)
The Ida County, Iowa Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in late June 2026 to impose an indefinite moratorium on data center development in the county. Unlike most data center moratoriums, which have a fixed duration, the Ida County moratorium has no sunset date — it will remain in effect until the county develops permanent regulations. Ida County is a small rural county in northwestern Iowa (county seat: Ida Grove). The moratorium was reported by Radio Iowa on July 13, 2026 as part of a broader wave of Iowa county actions on data center development.
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In effect
Dougherty County GA 45-day data center moratorium
Dougherty County, GA · Effective 2026-07-20 · Dougherty County, GA Board of Commissioners 45-day data center moratorium (adopted July 20, 2026)
The Dougherty County, Georgia Board of Commissioners approved a 45-day moratorium on July 20, 2026 halting acceptance and approval of zoning applications for data center development in unincorporated Dougherty County (the county surrounding Albany). The short-term pause gives the county planning commission time to study impacts and draft data-center land-use regulations. The county action is distinct from but related to Albany City's separate 12-month moratorium adopted one week later.
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In effect
Walker County GA 30-day data center moratorium
Walker County, GA · Effective 2026-07-10 · Walker County, GA Commission 30-day data center moratorium (adopted July 10, 2026)
Walker County, Georgia passed a 30-day data center moratorium on July 10, 2026 — a short-term emergency pause in the Northwest Georgia county that borders Hamilton County, Tennessee. A 180-day extension through approximately February 2027 is expected to be voted on at the August 6, 2026 regular commission meeting. Walker County joins Carroll, Lee, and Troup Counties in Georgia's growing cluster of local data center restrictions.
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In effect
12-month moratorium on data center construction, permits, an
Seward County, NE · Effective 2026-06-30 · 12-month moratorium on data center construction, permits, and special use conditions
Seward County commissioners unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on all data center construction, permits, and special use conditions to allow time to develop regulations before new projects proceed.
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In effect
One-year moratorium on new data center applications
Spartanburg County, SC · Effective 2026-06-22 · One-year moratorium on new data center applications
Spartanburg County Council passed first reading of a one-year data center moratorium and invoked the pending-ordinance doctrine to immediately freeze new applications, pending the second and third readings required for final adoption.
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In effect
Two-year moratorium on data centers, crypto mining, battery storage
Anderson County, Tennessee · Effective 2026-06-16 · Anderson County, TN data-center moratorium (June 16, 2026)
Two-year moratorium on data centers, cryptocurrency mining facilities, and battery storage facilities in Anderson County. The pause is intended to give the county time to research the topic, see what other jurisdictions are doing, and develop regulations before approving large-scale projects.
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In effect
One-year data-center moratorium in unincorporated Boone County
Boone County, Indiana · Effective 2026-06-16 · Boone County (IN) one-year data-center moratorium (June 15, 2026)
One-year moratorium on new data center development in unincorporated Boone County and the town of Advance. Halts filing, processing, review, and acceptance of new data-center facility applications in those areas. Meant to allow study of land-use, infrastructure, utility, agricultural, and rural-character impacts. Boone County is the twelfth Indiana county to enact a data-center pause; Meta's LEAP-district campus (Lebanon) is unaffected.
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In effect
Six-month data-center moratorium (Cumberland County, NC)
Cumberland County, North Carolina · Effective 2026-06-15 · Cumberland County (NC) six-month data-center moratorium (June 15, 2026)
Six-month moratorium on new data-center construction in unincorporated areas of Cumberland County. During this period, county staff will not review site plans or issue zoning and building permits for data centers. Ordinance defines data center as a facility 'housing critical information technology infrastructure ... used for cloud services, internet applications, and artificial intelligence workloads.' Does not apply within Fayetteville city limits.
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In effect
Box Elder County temporary data center moratorium
Box Elder County, UT · Effective 2026-06-11 · Box Elder County temporary data center moratorium
Box Elder County commissioners unanimously approved a 180-day moratorium pausing new data center development for research and policy work, with the Stratos project exempted.
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In effect
Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium
Dane County, WI · Effective 2026-06-04 · Dane County, WI 18-month hyperscale data-center moratorium (June 4, 2026)
Dane County, Wisconsin (home to Madison) approved an 18-month moratorium on hyperscale data centers (defined as 5,000+ servers and 10,000+ sq ft) in the 26 unincorporated county towns subject to county zoning authority, while officials draft permanent regulations.
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In effect
Hill County TX Data Center Developer Checklist
Hill County, TX · Effective 2026-06-04 · Original moratorium adopted 2026-05-12 (3-2 vote — first Texas county data-center moratorium of cycle)
On June 4, 2026, the Hill County (TX) Commissioners Court voted unanimously to rescind its May 12, 2026 one-year data-center moratorium (originally adopted 3-2) and replace it with a developer checklist. The reversal followed a $100 million federal lawsuit filed by RCM Hill, LLC against Hill County, County Judge Shane Brassell, and Commissioners Jim Holcomb and Larry Crumpton, arguing the moratorium was illegal. The replacement checklist remains binding county policy as of June 2026.
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In effect
First data center zoning regulations
St. Charles Parish, LA · Effective 2026-06-02 · First data center zoning regulations
The St. Charles Parish Council unanimously approved the parish's first data center zoning regulations, adding a definition and requiring 300-foot buffers from residential areas, landscape buffers, noise limits and generator-testing restrictions.
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In effect
24-month moratorium on data center construction
Allen County, KY · Effective 2026-06-01 · 24-month moratorium on data center construction
Allen County passed a 24-month moratorium on data center construction citing noise and lifestyle concerns observed in neighboring Simpson County.
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In effect
Iron County 180-day moratorium on new data center applicatio
Iron County, UT · Effective 2026-05-26 · Iron County 180-day moratorium on new data center applications
The Iron County Commission adopted an ordinance imposing a 180-day moratorium on accepting and processing new or incomplete land use applications for data centers, data center power plants and solar plants.
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In effect
12-month moratorium on data centers
Dubuque County, IA · Effective 2026-05-26 · 12-month moratorium on data centers
The Dubuque County Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 on May 26, 2026 to enact a 12-month moratorium on data centers while staff research and develop county zoning regulations for such facilities.
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In effect
One-year moratorium on new data center permits (Interim Ordi
Otoe County, NE · Effective 2026-05-20 · One-year moratorium on new data center permits (Interim Ordinance 26-2)
Otoe County commissioners adopted a one-year moratorium suspending permits needed for new data centers to give officials time to update the county's comprehensive development plan.
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In effect
Comal County TX Resolution on Data Center Impacts
Comal County, TX · Effective 2026-05-15 · Commissioners Court resolution requesting state action: (1) environmental-impact research, (2) full water-use transparency, (3) review/repeal of TX Qualified Data Center sales-tax exemption
The Comal County (TX) Commissioners Court adopted a resolution requesting that the State of Texas conduct research on environmental impacts of data centers, require transparent water-usage reporting from operators, and review or repeal the State Sales Tax Exemption for Qualified Data Centers. The resolution noted that cumulative regional water demand from multiple data-center facilities could materially affect local availability in drought-prone areas. Texas counties lack zoning authority, so this is the principal county-level instrument available.
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In effect
Rockdale County data-center + BESS moratorium extended through Sept 8
Rockdale County, Georgia · Effective 2026-05-13 · Rockdale County (GA) Res 2026-12 (May 13, 2026)
Extends the existing moratorium on the acceptance, processing, and approval of applications related to the establishment or expansion of data centers and battery energy storage systems (BESS) through September 8, 2026. Amends Resolution 2026-01 (initial 180-day moratorium enacted March 2026 covering high-water-use facilities).
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Proposed / pending
Calvert County data-center text amendments adopted May 5, 2026
Calvert County, Maryland · Effective 2026-05-05 · Calvert County, MD data-center text amendments (May 5, 2026)
Data center text amendments adopted by Calvert County BOCC. Amendments mandate closed-loop cooling systems, prohibit groundwater use for cooling, require developers to fund infrastructure upgrades, and enforce Tier 4 generator standards. Action taken May 5 after two prior failed motions (by Commissioners Mike Hart and Catherine Grasso) to enact a temporary 24-month moratorium.
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In effect
Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium
Manitowoc County, WI · Effective 2026-04-29 · Manitowoc County, WI 18-month data-center moratorium (April 28, 2026)
The Manitowoc County, Wisconsin Board unanimously voted April 28, 2026 to impose an 18-month moratorium barring the county from accepting applications or issuing permits for data-center construction while permanent regulations are developed. The moratorium was prompted by developer interest from the towns of Two Creeks, Two Rivers, and Mishicot.
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In effect
Glynn County GA Data Center Zoning Ordinance
Glynn County, GA · Effective 2026-04-15 · Glynn County Commission adopted data-center zoning ordinance April 2026 over Planning Commission objection
In April 2026, the Glynn County Commission voted to adopt new zoning ordinances permitting data centers, declining the Islands and Mainland Planning Commissions' unanimous joint recommendation to pause for a 120-day moratorium. The adopted ordinance includes performance metrics to limit potable water consumption by data centers but is otherwise viewed by local environmental groups as offering weak protections.
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In effect
Data Center Land-Use Regulations (buffer, setback, decommiss
New Castle County, DE · Effective 2026-03-19 · Data Center Land-Use Regulations (buffer, setback, decommissioning, cooling)
New Castle County enacted regulations requiring new data centers to keep 1,000-foot residential setbacks, use closed-loop cooling and energy-efficient generators, and set aside decommissioning funds.
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In effect
Temporary moratorium on data centers, nuclear and hydrogen f
Saline County, KS · Effective 2026-03-17 · Temporary moratorium on data centers, nuclear and hydrogen facilities in unincorporated areas
The Saline County Commission voted 4-0 on March 17, 2026 to adopt a moratorium on new data center, nuclear power, and hydrogen facility applications in unincorporated areas, effective until March 1, 2029, to allow time to draft development regulations.
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In effect
Data center zoning ordinance for unincorporated Linn County
Linn County, IA · Effective 2026-02-18 · Data center zoning ordinance for unincorporated Linn County
The Linn County Board of Supervisors adopted one of the nation's most comprehensive local data-center zoning ordinances on February 18, 2026, requiring water studies and water-use agreements, 1,000-foot residential setbacks, noise and light limits, and infrastructure-damage compensation.
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In effect
Newton County data-center application moratorium
Newton County, Georgia · Effective 2026-02-17 · Newton County (GA) data-center moratorium (February 2026)
Moratorium on the acceptance of applications, requests, or submissions proposing the development of data centers in Newton County. Initial moratorium was 30 days; Newton County's ordinance specifies that data centers can only exist in the Stanton Springs overlay. Concerns include developers seeking annexation into incorporated areas (Covington, Social Circle, Porterdale).
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In effect
Interim moratorium pausing data center applications
Sedgwick County, KS · Effective 2026-01-14 · Interim moratorium pausing data center applications
The Sedgwick County Commission first adopted an interim moratorium pausing new data center applications in January 2026 and has since extended it multiple times (most recently by 90 days to September 11) while planning staff develop zoning rules amid water, traffic, and public-safety concerns.
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In effect
Moratorium on data center construction in unincorporated Har
Harvey County, KS · Effective 2026-01-13 · Moratorium on data center construction in unincorporated Harvey County
The Harvey County Commission unanimously approved a resolution on January 13, 2026 halting data-processing and data-storage facility construction in unincorporated areas through the end of 2028 while planning and zoning staff draft regulations.
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In effect
Spotsylvania County VA Data Center Design Standards
Spotsylvania County, VA · Effective 2025-12-09 · Design standards adopted 2025-12-09 after the SUP motion failed at both the 2025-03-25 and 2025-08-13 sessions
On December 9, 2025, the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors approved design standards for data centers in industrial districts, after the Board deadlocked 3-3 in March 2025 on a stronger special-use permit requirement and a 4-3 August 2025 vote declined to require SUPs. The December standards govern data-center building design in industrial zones without imposing the SUP gate that supervisors split on earlier in the year.
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In effect
Morton County moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency
Morton County, ND · Effective 2024-09-12 · Morton County moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities
Morton County adopted a moratorium barring permitting of data centers and crypto-mining facilities until the county develops siting and performance standards, which it is still drafting as of mid-2026.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Washington County (MD) 12-month data center moratorium
Washington County · Washington County (MD) 12-month data center moratorium
The Washington County (Maryland) Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a 12-month moratorium temporarily halting new data center applications.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Santa Fe County 18-month data center moratorium
Santa Fe County · Santa Fe County 18-month data center moratorium
The Santa Fe County Commission approved an 18-month moratorium pausing large-scale data center projects while the county develops land-use, energy, and water regulations.
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Proposed / pending
Two-year moratorium on data center construction and operatio
Bell County, Kentucky · Two-year moratorium on data center construction and operation (ordinance, first reading)
The Bell County Fiscal Court unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance imposing a two-year moratorium on the construction, development, and operation of data centers and data storage facilities, with a second-reading vote pending.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Union County ordinance establishing a moratorium on data cen
Union County · Union County ordinance establishing a moratorium on data centers
The Union County Quorum Court passed an ordinance during an emergency meeting establishing a moratorium that pauses approval of data center projects while the county reviews infrastructure, utility, and public-safety concerns.
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Proposed / pending
Yellowstone County data center construction voter-approval i
Yellowstone County · Yellowstone County data center construction voter-approval initiative
A citizen ballot initiative gathering signatures for the November 2026 ballot would require approval from two-thirds of registered voters before any data center may be built or expanded in Yellowstone County.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Morris County resolution urging state oversight of data cent
Morris County · Morris County resolution urging state oversight of data center power and water use
The Morris County Commissioners Court unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the Governor, Texas Legislature, PUC, and ERCOT to require data center developers to disclose projected power and water use, undergo independent impact reviews, and adopt water-efficient cooling.
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Blocked / in litigation
In re: Frederick Cnty. Data Center Referendum (No. 67, Sept.
Frederick County · In re: Frederick Cnty. Data Center Referendum (No. 67, Sept. Term 2025)
The Maryland Supreme Court upheld a lower-court ruling that zoning changes creating Frederick County's 2,600-acre data center development zone (Ordinance 26.01.001) are not subject to a ballot referendum, keeping the data center zoning in force.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Ordinance 2026-32 - 180-Day Moratorium on Data Center Develo
Cache County · Ordinance 2026-32 - 180-Day Moratorium on Data Center Developments
The Cache County Council voted 6-0 to enact Ordinance 2026-32, a 180-day moratorium halting acceptance and review of data center applications in unincorporated areas while it reviews zoning codes.
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In effect
Prince George's County 2-Year Data Center Development Morato
Prince George's County · Prince George's County 2-Year Data Center Development Moratorium
The Prince George's County Council is considering a two-year moratorium pausing approvals of new data center development.
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In effect
Cherokee County GA 30-day data center moratorium (2026)
Cherokee County, GA · Cherokee County, Ga. Board of Commissioners, 2026-07-21 agenda item 6.3
The Cherokee County, Georgia Board of Commissioners took up a thirty-day moratorium on data centers at its regular meeting on 2026-07-21, added to the agenda by amendment as item 6.3. The stated purpose is to give Community Development Agency staff and the legal department time to draft an ordinance addressing the data center land use, which the county code does not currently regulate. In a separate agenda item, 6.4, the Board called a public hearing for 2026-08-18 to consider extending the moratorium; county staff have publicly stated they expect to request a 180-day extension at that hearing.
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In effect
Bullitt County KY IT infrastructure moratorium (2026)
Bullitt County, KY · Bullitt County, Ky. Ordinance 26-18
Ordinance 26-18 imposes a temporary moratorium on the acceptance and processing of applications related to IT infrastructure facilities in Bullitt County, Kentucky. The Bullitt County Fiscal Court's official agenda addendum for its 2026-07-07 regular meeting records item 13 as the first reading of 'Ordinance 26-18, Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on the Acceptance and Processing of Applications Related to IT Infrastructure Facilities'. Kentucky counties read ordinances twice, placing adoption at the next regular meeting on 2026-07-21. Press reporting states the Fiscal Court adopted it for a twelve-month period so that no new data center project can be considered while the county drafts IT development regulations and reworks its comprehensive plan, and that the Fiscal Court may terminate or extend the pause at any time.
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Proposed / pending
Loudoun County VA considering data center moratorium
Loudoun County, VA · Loudoun County, VA Board of Supervisors 6-1 vote (July 30, 2026) directing staff to prepare moratorium options; staff report due September 15, 2026
On July 30, 2026, the Loudoun County, Virginia Board of Supervisors voted 6-1 to direct county staff to prepare options for a temporary moratorium on new data center applications. If enacted, the pause would halt all new data center applications, site plans, and substation permit approvals while the county completes its Phase 2 Zoning Ordinance Amendment. The board also rejected a proposed 780 MW Active Infrastructure Campus (approximately 3.25 million square feet) at the same meeting. County Attorney Leo Rogers cautioned that a blanket moratorium likely lacks legal standing under Virginia law, which requires each rezoning or special exception to be considered individually. Supervisor Briskman stated 'The community has basically been begging us to do something about the unchecked growth of data centers.' Staff are directed to present options by the September 15, 2026 board meeting.
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Expired
Proposed 12-Month Data Center Moratorium (failed to pass)
Pulaski County, AR · Proposed 12-Month Data Center Moratorium (failed to pass)
A proposed one-year emergency moratorium on new data centers in Pulaski County was initially reported as passing but a review found the vote fell short of the required two-thirds and did not pass.
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Proposed / pending
Planning and Zoning Commission recommends 18-month data cent
Gage County, NE · Planning and Zoning Commission recommends 18-month data center moratorium
The Gage County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended an 18-month moratorium halting conditional and special use permits for data centers, sending it to the County Board of Supervisors for final approval.
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Expired
Oliver County 180-day data center construction moratorium (r
Oliver County, ND · Oliver County 180-day data center construction moratorium (repealed)
Oliver County commissioners adopted a 180-day moratorium on data center development in March 2026 but repealed it at a May 1, 2026 special meeting, clearing the way for Applied Digital's rezoning application.
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Proposed / pending
Ordinance imposing a moratorium on land use and development
Colleton County, SC · Ordinance imposing a moratorium on land use and development approvals for data centers
Colleton County Council voted unanimously on first reading to approve a six-month moratorium on special exceptions, conditional use and other land use approvals for data centers while it updates its Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Code.
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Proposed / pending
PWC DCOZOD Reform (DPA2026-00006)
Prince William County, VA · PWC DPA2026-00006 (DCOZOD amendment), BOS direction June 9, 2026
Prince William County's Planning Commission voted 5-2 on July 15, 2026 to recommend approval of DPA2026-00006, a comprehensive plan and zoning text amendment that would substantially reduce and redefine the Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District (DCOZOD) created in 2016. The amendment would end by-right data center development in the county by requiring applicants to qualify through one of five county-defined eligibility pathways. Projects already built, under construction, or with site plans past the quality-control threshold would be grandfathered. The Board of County Supervisors has not yet voted; that action is expected late 2026 or early 2027.
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Proposed / pending
Leon County FL 18-month data center moratorium (voted July 14, 2026; hearings pending)
Leon County, FL · Leon County, FL Board of County Commissioners vote, July 14, 2026, 18-month data center moratorium (public hearings pending)
Leon County, Florida (home of Tallahassee) commissioners voted on July 14, 2026 in favor of an 18-month moratorium on data centers. The moratorium is not final yet: public radio station WFSU reports that two public hearings are still required before the ordinance is formally in place.
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Proposed / pending
Greenwood County SC data center moratorium, Ord. 2026-25 (third reading July 21, 2026)
Greenwood County, SC · Greenwood County, SC Ordinance 2026-25 (data center moratorium), second reading 4-3, July 7, 2026; third reading July 21, 2026
Greenwood County, South Carolina is two-thirds of the way to a data center moratorium. On July 7, 2026 the county council advanced Ordinance 2026-25 — a data center moratorium — on second reading by a narrow 4-3 vote, and by the same 4-3 margin rejected a separate zoning text amendment (2026-19) that would have set data center rules. A third and final reading is set for July 21, 2026.
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Proposed / pending
Delta County MI 12-month data center + crypto moratorium (planning commission, July 6, 2026)
Delta County, MI · Delta County, MI Planning Commission resolution, July 6, 2026, recommending 12-month data center and crypto-mining moratorium
The Delta County, Michigan Planning Commission (Escanaba area, Upper Peninsula) voted on July 6, 2026 for a resolution recommending a 12-month moratorium on data centers and crypto-mining facilities. The moratorium is not in force yet — the county board of commissioners still has to act on the recommendation.
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Proposed / pending
Dodge County WI advisory data center resolution (29-2, mid-June 2026)
Dodge County, WI · Dodge County, WI Board of Supervisors advisory resolution (29-2), mid-June 2026, regarding a data center moratorium
The Dodge County, Wisconsin board voted 29-2 in mid-June 2026 for a resolution about a data center moratorium — but the vote was advisory only. No moratorium is actually in effect: the county administrator publicly corrected press reports that had described the vote as enacting one. The resolution signals board sentiment and could precede a binding measure.
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Proposed / pending
Proposed one-year ban on AI data centers (Holmes County, FL)
Holmes County, Florida · Holmes County, FL proposed AI data-center moratorium (drafting initiated June 2, 2026)
Holmes County commissioners directed the county attorney to draft a one-year moratorium on AI data centers and a separate ordinance for a permanent ban; commission members noted no applications have yet been submitted but residents largely favor a permanent ban. Public hearing scheduled June 16, 2026.
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Proposed / pending
Data center ZTA #25-187 (Charles County, MD) — Planning Commission recommended denial
Charles County, Maryland · Charles County (MD) ZTA #25-187 (Planning Commission action June 1, 2026)
Proposed Zoning Text Amendment that would define and permit (with conditions) a new land-use designation (7.01.130, Data Center) in the General Industrial (IG) and Heavy Industrial (IH) zones. After a June 1, 2026 public hearing, the Charles County Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial citing concerns over size limitations, decommissioning, environmental analysis, and community benefit agreements. Proposal now goes to the Board of County Commissioners for a final vote.
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Proposed / pending
Bell County TX Data Center Oversight (under discussion)
Bell County, TX · Bell County Commissioners Court — data-center oversight discussion; tax-abatement change postponed (2025-2026)
Bell County commissioners are discussing how to manage the road, drainage, water, and grid impacts of large data centers in the Killeen-Temple corridor, but have not adopted a binding cost-recovery ordinance. Texas counties have limited authority over development in unincorporated areas, and the commissioners have postponed changes to tax-abatement rules while urging the Legislature to grant counties more power over large commercial projects.
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Proposed / pending
Spokane County WA proposed 9-month data center moratorium
Spokane County, WA · Spokane County, WA, proposed county-commission moratorium on large-load data centers (announced July 20, 2026; formal vote pending)
Democratic Spokane County Commissioners Chris Jordan and Amber Waldref announced in July 2026 that they plan to propose a 9-month moratorium on new data centers with electricity demands of 1 megawatt or more in unincorporated Spokane County, Washington. The pause would give the county time to develop permanent zoning and land-use regulations for data centers. Republican Commissioner Josh Kerns opposed the measure. The county is in the greater Spokane metro area in eastern Washington State. Note: This is a county-level proposal separate from the City of Spokane's Ordinance C36887, which established data center regulations within city limits.
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Proposed / pending
Knox County Data Center District (pending)
Knox County, TN · Knox County, Tenn., proposed Data Centers Zoning District + moratorium resolution (pending, June 2026)
Knox County commissioners are drafting a new zoning category just for data centers, requiring conditional-use approval for facilities over 10 megawatts or using more than 20,000 gallons of water a day. A companion resolution would freeze new data center permits countywide until June 30, 2027 while the rules are written.
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Proposed / pending
Franklin County Zoning Rewrite (paused)
Franklin County, VA · Franklin County, Va., draft zoning rewrite (paused May 2026)
Franklin County, Virginia is rewriting its zoning ordinance for the first time since 1988, and data centers are the flashpoint. The draft would bar future data centers from using private wells, set noise limits on cooling fans, and require sites with existing substations or transmission lines. After heavy public criticism, supervisors paused the rewrite to gather more feedback.
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Proposed / pending
DeKalb County Data Center Regulations (pending)
DeKalb County, GA · DeKalb County, Ga., proposed data center regulations + moratorium extension (June 2026)
DeKalb County, Georgia has frozen new data center applications while it writes permanent zoning rules for the industry. On June 9, 2026, commissioners voted 5-2 to extend the freeze through September 30, 2026, giving leaders ~100 more days to review proposed rules on noise, location, design, infrastructure strain, and environmental impact. Residents have raised health, noise, and utility-cost concerns at hearings.
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Blocked / in litigation
Pima County Project Blue
Pima County, AZ · Pima County, Ariz., Project Blue rezoning and development agreement (2025); Pima Cnty. Super. Ct. litigation
Pima County's role in Project Blue is an approval, not a restriction: after Tucson rejected the project in August 2025, the county board voted 3–2 to rezone and sell roughly 290 acres of county land, and on December 16, 2025 approved a development agreement with Beale Infrastructure to move the data center forward in unincorporated Pima County. Opponents sued under Arizona's open meeting law; a judge dismissed that suit in April 2026, with additional litigation filed in January 2026.
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Blocked / in litigation
PW Digital Gateway Litigation
Prince William County, VA · Oak Valley HOA et al. v. Prince William County (Va. Ct. App. Mar. 2026; appeal pending)
Courts voided Prince William County's December 2022 rezoning for the 2,100-acre Digital Gateway corridor of up to 37 data centers near Manassas Battlefield, finding the county violated state public-notice requirements. The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld that ruling on March 31, 2026. Following the ruling, Prince William County voted not to appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court, and developers also dropped their appeals, effectively ending the legal challenge.
City / local data-center siting and energy rules (147)
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In effect
Hillsboro OR data center/battery storage moratorium (2026)
Hillsboro, OR · Effective 2026-07-27 · City of Hillsboro, Ore. — City Council special meeting action, 2026-07-27 (120-day moratorium)
The Hillsboro City Council voted at a special meeting Monday, July 27, 2026 to enact a 120-day moratorium blocking new or expanded data center and battery energy storage projects, running until at least November 24, 2026. The move follows concern over high electricity and water use, noise, tax incentives, and the limited number of jobs data centers create — and comes the same week local leaders, businesses, and farmers joined a separate lawsuit against the city and county over a series of enterprise-zone tax-break approvals for 17 proposed data-center projects.
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In effect
Foster Twp PA data center zoning restriction (2026)
Foster Township, PA · Effective 2026-07-08 · Foster Township, Luzerne County, Pa. zoning ordinance amendment (adopted 2026-07-08); no ordinance number on the document
The amendment defines 'Data Center' — expressly including cryptocurrency mining, blockchain transaction processing and server farms — and 'Data Center Accessory Use', then sets the use table so data centers are NOT permitted in the B-2, B-3, A-1, C-1, I-1, I-2 and S-1 districts, and are allowed only as a conditional use in the AEO energy overlay district. New supplemental regulations impose a 2,000-foot setback from all property lines and from sensitive uses, a 40-foot height cap inclusive of roof-mounted equipment, a mandatory enclosing buffer, preliminary, interim and as-built acoustical studies enforcing a 65 dB(A) daytime limit, a vibration study, a water feasibility study with drawdown testing of wells within 3,000 feet and DRBC approval where thresholds are met, DEP/SEO wastewater approval, electric-provider capacity certification, NFPA 30/70/75/76/110/855 compliance, a fire-department-accepted Emergency Response Plan with applicant-funded municipal cost mitigation, and a decommissioning plan backed by bond or escrow reviewed bi-annually.
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In effect
Madison NJ Ordinance 27-2026 (Data Center Ban)
Madison, NJ · Effective 2026-06-16 · Borough of Madison, N.J., Ordinance No. 27-2026 (adopted June 16, 2026)
The Borough of Madison, New Jersey's Common Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 27-2026 on June 16, 2026, amending Chapter 195 of the borough's land development code to prohibit data centers as a use within the borough. Madison operates its own municipal electric utility and cited energy, water, and infrastructure concerns. The borough is the latest in a growing wave of New Jersey municipalities to permanently ban data center facilities.
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In effect
Monterey Park Data Center Ban (Measure NDC)
Monterey Park, CA · Effective 2026-06-02 · Monterey Park, Cal., Measure NDC (June 2, 2026); Municipal Code amendment
Monterey Park voters approved Measure NDC on June 2, 2026, amending the city's Municipal Code to permanently prohibit data centers anywhere in the city. The ban followed a 45-day moratorium the City Council first adopted January 21, 2026 (later extended to January 21, 2027) after a proposed data center drew strong neighborhood opposition. With voter approval, the prohibition is now a permanent citywide ban.
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In effect
Millville NJ Data Center Ban (May 19, 2026)
Millville, NJ · Effective 2026-05-19 · City of Millville, N.J., Chapter 30 Land Use and Development Amendment (adopted May 19, 2026)
Millville, New Jersey's City Commissioners voted on May 19, 2026 to ban data centers citywide by amending Chapter 30 (Land Use and Development) to categorically prohibit facilities used to house computer systems, cloud services, AI/machine-learning workloads, and blockchain/crypto mining. The ban blocked what would have been the largest data center facility ever proposed in New Jersey — a 2.6-million-square-foot facility that would have drawn 1.4 gigawatts from the grid and billions of gallons of water annually for cooling.
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In effect
Fayetteville GA Data Center Prohibition
Fayetteville, GA · Effective 2026-03-05 · City of Fayetteville, Ga., Ord. 26-0-12 (eff. Mar. 5, 2026)
After community backlash over the existing 6.2-million-square-foot QTS data center campus and its water use, Fayetteville passed a 90-day moratorium in January 2026, then adopted Ordinance 26-0-12 on March 5, 2026, which prohibits new data centers in every city zoning district. The city's official FAQ confirms: new data centers are prohibited citywide.
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In effect
Town of Warrenton VA Zoning Ordinance Amendment
Warrenton, VA · Effective 2025-07-08 · Town zoning ordinance amendment 2025-07-08 fully removes data-center use category from town industrial districts
On July 8, 2025, the Warrenton Town Council amended its zoning ordinance to remove data centers as a permissible use in industrial zoning districts within town limits. Warrenton is the county seat of Fauquier County and the action is parallel to Fauquier County's 2024 Vint Hill PCID restrictions on data centers above 50,000 sq ft.
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In effect
Village of Horseheads NY data center moratorium (2026)
Village of Horseheads, NY · Village of Horseheads, N.Y. Local Law No. 6 of 2026
The local law imposes a village-wide one-year moratorium barring the Board of Trustees, Planning Board, Code Enforcement Officer and any other village body or officer from beginning or continuing review of, or granting any approval for, a Data Processing Center, and bars issuance of building permits for such use while it is in effect. 'Data Processing Center' is defined broadly as a facility housing multiple banks of computers, modular container-based processor facilities, or server clusters, including uses related to AI processing and cryptocurrency mining. The Board may direct the Building Inspector or Code Enforcement Officer to revoke permits or certificates of occupancy issued in violation, and violations carry a civil penalty of $2,500 per day plus injunctive relief. A hardship-variance procedure runs through the Board of Trustees.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Berkeley Heights NJ data center ban (2026)
Berkeley Heights, NJ · Berkeley Heights Township, N.J. Ordinance 2026-13 (adopted 2026-07-21)
The Township Council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2026-13, which designates data centers as a prohibited use in every zoning district townwide. The council closed a public hearing that drew more than a dozen speakers before the final roll-call vote. Debate followed weeks of resident concern after rumblings of developer interest in the former Nokia property, though no specific data-center redevelopment application at that site was reported.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Hardyston NJ data center ban (2026)
Hardyston Township, NJ · Hardyston Township, N.J. Ordinance 2026-12 (adopted 2026-06-24)
The Township Council unanimously passed Ordinance 2026-12, banning data centers from being built anywhere in Hardyston Township, in every zoning district. Officials noted no developer had actually proposed a data center in the township — this is a proactive, preemptive ban.
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In effect
Atlanta Beltline/MARTA Data Center Ban
Atlanta, GA · City of Atlanta Ords. 24-O-1218 & 24-O-1222 (2024); June 2025 SUP ordinance
On September 3, 2024 the Atlanta City Council banned new data centers within the Beltline Overlay District and within a half mile of high-capacity MARTA transit stops, to reserve that land for housing and mixed-use development. In June 2025 the council went further, requiring special-use permits for new data centers citywide and banning them in several additional neighborhoods.
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In effect
Tucson Data Center UDC Standards (adopted 2026)
Tucson, AZ · Effective 2026-08-05 · City of Tucson, UDC Text Amendment (adopted August 5, 2026, 6-1 vote)
Tucson's City Council voted 6-1 on August 5, 2026 to adopt citywide zoning rules for large data centers. Projects over 25,000 square feet or 20 megawatts must obtain Planned Area Development zoning, allowing the Mayor and Council to review each project, and must meet setback, noise, habitat, and grid-protection standards. The ordinance makes Tucson one of the first Arizona cities to establish permanent data center siting regulations.
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In effect
Toccoa GA data center moratorium (2026)
Toccoa, GA · Effective 2026-07-27 · City of Toccoa, Ga. — City Commission, unanimous vote, 2026-07-27
The Toccoa City Commission unanimously approved a data center moratorium at its meeting Monday, July 27, 2026, running through January 11, 2027, to give the city more time to research data centers' size, lighting, traffic, noise, and water-consumption impacts before adopting permanent rules. Neither the city nor surrounding Stephens County has received any data center applications yet.
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In effect
Palo IA EU-1 Data Center District (2026)
Palo, IA · Effective 2026-07-22 · Palo, Iowa Ordinance No. 93-2026, amending Code of Ordinances ch. 165
Ordinance No. 93-2026 adds Section 165.16A to the Palo zoning code, creating the EU-1 Data Center Exclusive Use District in which data centers are the permitted principal use. A data center must be rezoned to EU-1 unless already located there, and must submit a major site plan for review before approval. Before the first building permit the applicant must supply electric line and access-road locations, written verification from the power provider that the proposed load can be served, a full-cutoff lighting plan, an approved Road Use Agreement, a pre-construction noise analysis, an emergency response plan coordinated with local first responders and Linn County Emergency Management, and a drought and water-supply section permitting surface-water and groundwater monitoring wells with water-level emergency triggers. This is a permissive zoning framework with conditions attached, not a moratorium.
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In effect
Nashville Permanent Data Center Zoning (500k sq ft cap + BZA approval)
Nashville, TN · Effective 2026-07-21 · Metro Nashville-Davidson County, permanent data center zoning ordinance (adopted July 21, 2026; 500k sq ft cap + heavy-industrial + BZA special exception)
Nashville's Metro Council enacted permanent data center zoning restrictions on July 21, 2026 — Davidson County's first-ever data center land-use rules. The ordinance bans data centers over 500,000 square feet anywhere in the county. Data centers under that threshold must be located in heavy-industrial (HI) zones and must obtain a special exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals after a public hearing. The rules were driven by a proposed data center adjacent to the Nashville Zoo and by the largest public-comment turnout in Metro Council history. A companion temporary moratorium (until December 1, 2026) was enacted the same night. Mayor Freddie O'Connell separately advanced eminent-domain legislation to acquire the Zoo-adjacent DC Blox parcel.
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In effect
Chamblee GA data center moratorium (2026)
Chamblee, GA · Effective 2026-07-21 · City of Chamblee, Ga. resolution (adopted 2026-07-21); number blank in the packet copy
The Mayor and Council adopted a resolution imposing a complete suspension on the City's acceptance of any applications relating to the establishment of new data centers. The suspension expressly covers applications for special land use permits, rezonings, land disturbance permits, building permits, business licenses, and certificates of occupancy. The resolution defines a data center as a physical room, building or facility housing infrastructure for building, running, delivering or transmitting applications and services, or for storing and managing associated data. The City Manager must notify staff, and during the period the Mayor and Council with staff will research data center impacts and consider Code revisions.
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In effect
Ellsworth WI temporary data center ordinance (2026)
Ellsworth, WI · Effective 2026-07-21 · Village of Ellsworth, Wis. — Plan Commission action, July 21, 2026 (2-year temporary ordinance)
The village's Plan Commission unanimously approved a temporary, two-year ordinance blocking data center development, adopted July 21, 2026.
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In effect
Nashville Data Center Moratorium (effective through Dec 1, 2026)
Nashville, TN · Effective 2026-07-21 · Metro Nashville-Davidson County, ordinance adopted July 21, 2026 (data center moratorium, effective through Dec 1, 2026)
Nashville's Metro Council enacted a temporary countywide freeze on new data center permits on July 21, 2026, pausing acceptance and processing of zoning, building, and grading approvals through December 1, 2026, while permanent data center zoning rules are finalized. The moratorium was driven by a proposed data center adjacent to the Nashville Zoo and the largest public-comment turnout in Metro Council history (200+ speakers over a marathon overnight session in July). The Metro Council also advanced Mayor Freddie O'Connell's eminent-domain legislation to acquire the Zoo-adjacent parcel targeted by DC Blox.
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In effect
Brookhaven NY 18-month data center moratorium (eff. July 16, 2026)
Brookhaven, NY · Effective 2026-07-16 · Town of Brookhaven, NY Town Board unanimous vote, July 16, 2026, 18-month data center moratorium
The Town of Brookhaven on Long Island (Suffolk County, New York — the town containing Yaphank) unanimously adopted an 18-month moratorium on data center development on July 16, 2026, following a heated board meeting. The vote came amid controversy over data center projects in the Yaphank area, including the Wildflower project.
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In effect
Pensacola FL 1-year large-scale data center moratorium (eff. July 16, 2026)
Pensacola, FL · Effective 2026-07-16 · City of Pensacola, FL 1-year large-scale data center moratorium (Bare ordinance), July 16, 2026
Pensacola, Florida adopted a one-year moratorium on large-scale data centers on July 16, 2026. The ordinance, brought by Council Member Bare, is intended as a bridge measure while the city works toward a permanent ban on large data centers.
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In effect
Pocatello ID data center CUP denial upheld (July 16, 2026)
Pocatello, ID · Effective 2026-07-16 · Pocatello, ID City Council 4-1 vote, July 16, 2026, upholding CUP denial for Lex Developments 100MW AI data center
Pocatello, Idaho's city council said no to a proposed $2.6 billion AI data center. On July 16, 2026 the council voted 4-1 to uphold a hearing examiner's earlier denial of the conditional use permit for the 100-megawatt Lex Developments project. The developer cannot reapply for 12 months and has vowed to sue. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes were among the project's opponents.
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In effect
Cleveland OH 3-month data center moratorium (eff. July 15, 2026)
Cleveland, OH · Effective 2026-07-15 · Cleveland, OH City Council 14-1 vote, July 15, 2026, 3-month standalone data center moratorium (extendable 3 months)
Cleveland, Ohio paused new standalone data center projects for three months on July 15, 2026, by a 14-1 city council vote. The pause can be extended for three additional months. It applies to standalone data centers — facilities whose primary use is data processing — rather than server rooms inside other businesses.
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In effect
East Greenbush NY 6-month data center moratorium (eff. July 15, 2026)
East Greenbush, NY · Effective 2026-07-15 · Town of East Greenbush, NY Town Board unanimous vote, July 15, 2026, 6-month data center development and operations moratorium
The Town of East Greenbush, New York (Rensselaer County, near Albany) unanimously adopted its own six-month moratorium on data centers on July 15, 2026 — covering not just new development but also data center operations. Town Supervisor Conway described it as the town's 'own layer of protection,' going beyond the New York state executive order on data centers.
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In effect
Lawrence KS 24-month data center moratorium (eff. July 14, 2026)
Lawrence, KS · Effective 2026-07-14 · Lawrence, KS City Commission unanimous vote, July 14, 2026, 24-month data center moratorium
The Lawrence, Kansas City Commission voted unanimously on July 14, 2026 to impose a 24-month moratorium on new data center uses within city limits, and to initiate two text amendments to the city's Land Development Code. Under current code, data centers are allowed in industrial zones by right with no special approval; the moratorium pauses all new approvals while planning staff develops new standards. The commission extended the originally proposed 12-month term to 24 months to ensure staff had sufficient time. Lawrence is the seat of Douglas County and home to the University of Kansas.
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In effect
Topeka KS 12-month data center moratorium (eff. July 14, 2026)
Topeka, KS · Effective 2026-07-14 · City of Topeka, KS governing body action, July 14, 2026, 12-month data center and battery storage moratorium
Topeka, Kansas paused consideration of new data center projects for 12 months on July 14, 2026. The pause also applies to battery energy storage facilities. City officials will use the year to study how data centers should be regulated before any new projects are considered.
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In effect
Indio CA data center urgency moratorium extension (July 14, 2026)
Indio, CA · Effective 2026-07-14 · City of Indio, CA urgency data center moratorium, extended by unanimous council vote July 14, 2026
Indio, California (Coachella Valley, Riverside County) extended its emergency moratorium on new data center projects on July 14, 2026, by unanimous city council vote. California cities use 'urgency' moratoriums that start short and can be extended in defined increments while zoning rules are written.
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In effect
Haring Charter Township MI data center moratorium (eff. July 13, 2026)
Haring Charter Township, MI · Effective 2026-07-13 · Haring Charter Township, MI board action, July 13, 2026, 6-month data center moratorium
Haring Charter Township in Wexford County, Michigan (just north of Cadillac) adopted a six-month moratorium on data centers on July 13, 2026. A crowd of residents came out in support of restricting data center development in the township.
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In effect
Hagar Township MI data center moratorium (eff. July 13, 2026)
Hagar Township, MI · Effective 2026-07-13 · Hagar Township, MI board action, July 13, 2026, data center moratorium
Hagar Township in Berrien County, Michigan (on Lake Michigan, north of Benton Harbor) adopted a moratorium on data centers on July 13, 2026. How long the pause lasts was not reported.
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In effect
Shelbyville TN Data Center + Crypto Moratorium
Shelbyville, TN · Effective 2026-07-09 · Shelbyville, TN City Council data center and cryptocurrency mining moratorium (adopted July 9, 2026)
The Shelbyville City Council passed a temporary moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining plants on July 9, 2026. The dual coverage — AI data centers and crypto mining in the same ordinance — reflects a pattern seen in several Tennessee communities where concerns about electricity use, water consumption, and noise apply equally to both types of large computing facilities. Shelbyville is the county seat of Bedford County in Middle Tennessee.
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In effect
Wentzville MO 6-month data center application moratorium (early July 2026)
Wentzville, MO · Effective 2026-07-08 · City of Wentzville, MO Board of Aldermen action, early July 2026, 6-month data center application moratorium
Wentzville, Missouri (a fast-growing St. Charles County suburb of St. Louis) put a six-month moratorium on new data center applications in early July 2026. The city pause is separate from — and preceded — St. Charles County's own county-level moratorium.
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In effect
Roanoke City VA Data Center Special Exception Zoning Ordinance
Roanoke, VA · Effective 2026-07-07 · Roanoke City, VA City Council unanimous vote, July 7, 2026, data center special exception zoning ordinance
On July 7, 2026, the Roanoke City (VA) City Council unanimously passed a new zoning ordinance setting rules for where and how data centers can be built in the city. The ordinance requires data centers to obtain a special exception permit, which triggers a public hearing before the Planning Commission and City Council before any approval. Roanoke is an independent city in the Roanoke Valley of southwestern Virginia, separate from Roanoke County.
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In effect
Broomfield CO 18-month data center moratorium, Ord. 2313 (eff. July 7, 2026)
Broomfield, CO · Effective 2026-07-07 · City and County of Broomfield, CO Ordinance 2313 (July 7, 2026), 18-month >=10MW data center moratorium
Broomfield, Colorado (a combined city and county) passed Ordinance 2313 on July 7, 2026, temporarily banning new data center construction for 18 months, through December 2027. The ban applies to larger data centers — those using 10 megawatts of power or more — while the city studies how to regulate them.
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In effect
Springville AL 1-year data center moratorium (eff. July 6, 2026)
Springville, AL · Effective 2026-07-06 · City of Springville, AL council action, July 6, 2026, 1-year data center moratorium
Springville, Alabama (St. Clair County, northeast of Birmingham) placed a one-year moratorium on data center proposals on July 6, 2026. The move was proactive — no data center was pending — and follows nearby Leeds in pausing data center development in the Birmingham metro area.
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In effect
Summit NJ AI Data Center Ban (proposed)
Summit, NJ · Effective 2026-07-06 · City of Summit, N.J., Ordinance 26-3390 amending Code Ch. 35 'Prohibited Uses' (adopted June 16, 2026)
Summit, New Jersey's Common Council adopted Ordinance 26-3390 on June 16, 2026, categorically banning large AI data center facilities — those with 20 megawatts or more of peak power — as a prohibited land use in every zone of the city. The ban amends Chapter 35 of the city code and is one of the first U.S. examples of a permanent (non-moratorium) categorical zoning prohibition on AI data centers. Some residents and one council member argued the 20 MW threshold is too lax; the council directed staff to prepare a revised version (potentially without the threshold) for introduction July 7, 2026.
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In effect
One-year citywide data-center moratorium (Spokane)
Spokane · Effective 2026-06-22 · Spokane one-year citywide data center moratorium ordinance (adopted June 22, 2026)
Spokane City Council voted 6-1 on June 22, 2026 to impose an immediate one-year citywide moratorium on building permit applications for new computer data centers. The ordinance was amended before passage to focus on data-center activity rather than building type. Gives the city one year to develop a permanent regulatory framework.
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In effect
Spokane Data Center Moratorium (1 year)
Spokane, WA · Effective 2026-06-22 · City of Spokane, one-year citywide data center moratorium ordinance (adopted June 22, 2026)
Spokane City Council voted 6-1 on June 22, 2026 to impose an immediate one-year citywide moratorium on building permit applications for new computer data centers. The ordinance was amended before passage to focus on data-center activity rather than building type, closing a loophole that might have allowed data centers in mixed-use facilities. The moratorium gives the city one year to develop a permanent regulatory framework for energy, water, and noise impacts. Sole dissent: Council Member Michael Cathcart, who argued the ban could inadvertently block a planned aerospace research center.
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In effect
Fort Payne AL data center moratorium (6-month, June 2026)
Fort Payne, AL · Effective 2026-06-16 · Fort Payne, Ala., City Council data center moratorium resolution (adopted June 16, 2026)
The Fort Payne City Council unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on data center development on June 16, 2026, pausing new data center projects while city staff, the Planning Commission, and the city attorney study impacts (infrastructure, environment, traffic, noise, water, community character) and draft zoning rules. The city says the move is proactive — no data center has applied yet. The resolution defines 'data center' broadly (server farms, hyperscale, colocation) but exempts existing permitted facilities, routine maintenance, and small server rooms.
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In effect
Garden City GA 6-month data center moratorium
Garden City, GA · Effective 2026-06-15 · Garden City, GA City Council, unanimous 6-month data center moratorium (June 15, 2026)
The Garden City, Georgia City Council voted unanimously on June 15, 2026 to impose a 6-month moratorium on data center development covering all zoning districts within the city. The moratorium runs through approximately December 15, 2026, pausing all new data center applications, permits, and zoning requests. Garden City is a small industrial and logistics municipality in Chatham County adjacent to Savannah, and the action followed similar moratoriums by other coastal Georgia communities reacting to increased data center development interest in the Savannah metro area.
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In effect
South Strabane Data Center Ordinance
South Strabane Township, PA · Effective 2026-06-10 · South Strabane Twp., Pa., data center ordinance (adopted June 10, 2026)
South Strabane Township (Washington County, Pennsylvania) adopted an ordinance on June 10, 2026 setting where and how data centers can be built — including a 1,500-foot buffer from any occupied home, a 30-acre minimum lot size, and height limits. The board passed it unanimously after a standing-room-only public hearing, along with a companion noise and dust ordinance.
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In effect
Seattle Data Center Moratorium
Seattle, WA · Effective 2026-06-09 · Seattle Council Bill 121214 (adopted June 9, 2026)
On June 9, 2026 the Seattle City Council unanimously passed an emergency one-year moratorium on siting new large data centers (power capacity over 20 megavolt-amperes) while the city studies impacts on the electric grid, water, utility rates, land use, jobs, and public health. It is a temporary pause on large facilities, not a permanent citywide ban: existing data centers may continue operating and expand up to the 20 MVA cap, and the moratorium can be extended once for six months. Mayor Katie Wilson signed the ordinance; it took effect immediately upon signature.
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In effect
McMinnville Data Center Moratorium
McMinnville, TN · Effective 2026-06-09 · McMinnville, Tenn., data center moratorium (June 9, 2026; 18-month term)
McMinnville, Tennessee's Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously passed an 18-month moratorium on data center permitting on June 9, 2026, after more than 90 minutes of citizen comment. The moratorium gives the city time to evaluate impacts on the electrical grid, water and stormwater systems, environmental and public health, noise, and community fit. It was prompted by a developer's plan to build a 96,000-square-foot data center designed to support an Nvidia GB200 NVL72 AI supercomputing platform drawing 25 megawatts.
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In effect
Flint MI 12-month data center moratorium
Flint, MI · Effective 2026-06-08 · Flint, MI City Council data center moratorium (adopted 7-1, June 8, 2026)
The Flint, Michigan City Council voted 7-1 on June 8, 2026 to impose a 12-month moratorium on data center development within city limits, running through approximately June 8, 2027. During the moratorium, no permit applications, site plans, or construction approvals for data centers will be accepted or processed. The council directed the planning and development and legal departments to review zoning codes and recommend permanent regulations, and added a requirement for an independent study with public input on findings. Councilwoman Judy Priestley cast the lone dissenting vote.
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In effect
Charlotte Data Center Moratorium
Charlotte, NC · Effective 2026-06-08 · Charlotte, N.C., data center moratorium (adopted June 8, 2026)
Charlotte City Council voted 11-0 on June 8, 2026 to pause new data centers for 150 days while the city studies their impacts and hears from residents worried about noise and rising electric and water costs. Already-approved projects — including the five-building, 122-acre 'Powerhouse Charlotte' campus in north Charlotte that could draw 300-400 megawatts — are NOT affected, because the city lacks legal authority over approved projects.
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In effect
Edmond Data Center Moratorium
Edmond, OK · Effective 2026-06-08 · Edmond, Okla., data center moratorium ordinance (adopted June 8, 2026; through Dec. 31, 2026)
Edmond, Oklahoma's City Council voted 5-0 on June 8, 2026 to freeze new data center permit applications through December 31, 2026. The city has no pending applications but wants time to study data centers' effects on local water and electricity systems, update zoning code, and understand infrastructure cost-recovery before accepting any. An emergency clause made the moratorium effective immediately; a research and draft-regulation timeline spans the following five months.
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In effect
Scarborough Data Center Moratorium
Scarborough, ME · Effective 2026-06-03 · Town of Scarborough, Me., data center moratorium (June 3, 2026)
On June 3, 2026 the Scarborough Town Council unanimously approved a 180-day moratorium on data center development, effective immediately and applying retroactively to applications submitted on or after April 1, 2026. The pause — prompted by a proposed 52-acre data center and concerns about water use and wildlife — gives the town time to amend its zoning ordinance.
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In effect
Imperial CA Data Center Moratorium
Imperial, CA · Effective 2026-06-03 · City of Imperial, Cal., Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 834 (adopted June 3, 2026; 45-day initial term)
The City of Imperial, California's City Council unanimously approved Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 834 on June 3, 2026, imposing a 45-day moratorium on new data center development. The pause lets the city study water, energy, and land-use impacts before any applications proceed; under California Government Code § 65858 the council can extend it by up to 10 months and 15 days, and then again for up to one more year, for a maximum of about two years.
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In effect
Augusta GA data center moratorium (extended through ~Sept 19, 2026)
Augusta, GA · Effective 2026-06-02 · Augusta-Richmond County Commission vote (June 2, 2026; extended July 21, 2026), data center moratorium through ~September 19, 2026
The Augusta Commission voted June 2, 2026 to impose a 49-day moratorium on new data center applications, then extended it an additional 60 days on July 21, 2026, pushing the effective moratorium through approximately September 19, 2026. The extension gives commissioners time to complete community outreach (including a planned Atlanta-area data center tour and three community meetings) before adopting a permanent data center ordinance. A draft permanent ordinance would restrict data centers to heavy industrial zoning, require special exceptions with public hearings, and mandate 500-foot buffers from residential and agricultural land. The QTS campus on Gordon Highway remains exempt from the moratorium as construction was already underway when the original moratorium passed.
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In effect
Grove City OH 12-Month Moratorium on High-Density Computing Facilities
Grove City, OH · Effective 2026-06-02 · Grove City Council moratorium (June 2026) (2026-06-02)
6-1 vote pausing establishment, review, and approval of high-density computing facilities for 12 months with 6-month task-force check-in; triggered by Headwaters Site Development proposal.
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In effect
Reno Data Center Moratorium
Reno, NV · Effective 2026-06-01 · Reno, Nev., data center moratorium (adopted June 1, 2026; through Aug. 31, 2027)
Reno froze new data center applications until August 31, 2027 — or until the city adopts new data center regulations, whichever comes first. The City Council voted 6-1 on June 1, 2026 to extend a 30-day pause it first imposed in May, and directed staff to draft rules covering water use, energy use, and community benefit agreements. The vote reversed several council members' earlier opposition to regulating data centers.
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In effect
Brunswick Data Center Moratorium
Brunswick, ME · Effective 2026-06-01 · Town of Brunswick, Me., data center moratorium (June 1, 2026)
On June 1, 2026 the Brunswick Town Council unanimously approved a 180-day moratorium on large-scale data centers. During the pause the town will not process applications for new or expanded data centers with electrical capacity of 1 megawatt or greater, while it drafts regulations.
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In effect
Cedar Hill Data Center Moratorium
Cedar Hill, TN · Effective 2026-06-01 · Cedar Hill, Tenn., data center moratorium resolution (June 1, 2026; 2-year term)
Cedar Hill, Tennessee's city commission unanimously approved a resolution on June 1, 2026 imposing a two-year moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities. The preemptive pause — no data centers are currently proposed in Cedar Hill — cites concerns about electrical infrastructure, water usage, wastewater capacity, transportation, emergency services, noise, and impacts on surrounding properties. Cedar Hill Mayor John Edwards said he acted after watching a fight over three proposed data centers in nearby Franklin, Kentucky.
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In effect
Bloomington Data Center Moratorium
Bloomington, IL · Effective 2026-05-26 · Bloomington, Ill., data center moratorium (adopted May 26, 2026)
Bloomington, Illinois paused data center development for six months. The City Council voted unanimously on May 26, 2026 to halt any facility designed with a capacity greater than 5 megawatts while the city writes data center regulations, with at least two public hearings required during the pause. The council can extend the moratorium beyond six months if needed.
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In effect
Denver Data Center Moratorium
Denver, CO · Effective 2026-05-19 · City and County of Denver, data center moratorium ordinance (adopted May 19, 2026)
Denver City Council voted 13-0 on May 19, 2026 to impose a one-year moratorium on new large data center development while the city drafts permanent zoning and land-use rules. The freeze covers new facilities above a megawatt threshold while officials study impacts on Denver's electricity grid, water supply, and neighborhood character.
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In effect
Normal Data Center Moratorium
Normal, IL · Effective 2026-05-18 · Normal, Ill., data center moratorium (adopted May 18, 2026)
The Town of Normal, Illinois approved a six-month moratorium on data centers on May 18, 2026 — a week before neighboring Bloomington passed its own — pausing new data center development town-wide while local regulations are drafted. Unlike Bloomington's version, Normal's pause is not limited to facilities over 5 megawatts.
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In effect
Jackson Township OH One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
Jackson Township, OH · Effective 2026-05-12 · Trustees resolution May 12, 2026 (2026-05-12)
Blocks permits and zoning approvals for data centers on unincorporated township land while regulations are studied; follows Stream Data Centers proposal off Rensch Road.
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In effect
Baltimore Data Center Moratorium
Baltimore, MD · Effective 2026-05-11 · City of Baltimore, data center moratorium ordinance (signed May 2026)
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott signed legislation in May 2026 imposing a one-year moratorium on new data centers with 10 megawatts or more of peak electricity demand. The pause gives city officials time to develop land-use and infrastructure standards for large digital infrastructure projects.
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In effect
Lysander Data Center Moratorium
Lysander, NY · Effective 2026-05-07 · Town of Lysander, N.Y., 6-month data center moratorium (adopted May 7, 2026)
On May 7, 2026 the Lysander Town Board (Onondaga County, near Syracuse) unanimously approved a six-month moratorium barring development and construction of new data centers. More than 350 residents packed the meeting in opposition to the proposed 300-megawatt Ranalli Lysander Data Center on a 120-acre site.
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In effect
Boardman Township OH One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
Boardman Township, OH · Effective 2026-04-28 · Trustees resolution Apr 28, 2026 (2026-04-28)
Unanimous trustee vote pausing data centers for one year to develop zoning addressing noise, energy and water-rate impacts.
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In effect
Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026)
Dayton, OH · Effective 2026-04-22 · Dayton City Commission moratorium resolution (April 22, 2026)
Dayton City Commission passed a 180-day moratorium on April 22, 2026, pausing acceptance and processing of applications for zoning, building permits, and other approvals for large data centers in the city. City staff were directed to develop permanent data-center zoning regulations; on June 22 commissioners held a public hearing on a proposed permanent ban on large data centers in all city zones, with a final vote scheduled June 24. The June 24 outcome was not confirmed in search results as of June 25.
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In effect
Washington Township OH data center moratorium (360-day, Apr 2026)
Washington Township, OH · Effective 2026-04-21 · Washington Township (Montgomery Co.) Board of Trustees resolution (April 21, 2026)
Washington Township (Montgomery County), in the Dayton metro area, enacted a 360-day moratorium on the issuance and processing of zoning permits and approvals for new data center uses on April 21, 2026. The trustees described the action as preemptive — no developer had yet applied — and intended to allow time to study impacts on utilities, noise, aesthetics, safety, and infrastructure, and decide whether to limit, prohibit, or regulate data centers with permanent zoning standards.
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In effect
Bangor Data Center Moratorium
Bangor, ME · Effective 2026-04-13 · Bangor, Me., 180-day data center moratorium (adopted Apr. 13, 2026)
Bangor's City Council voted 9-0 on April 13, 2026 for a 180-day moratorium on data center development, saying the city is 'suddenly experiencing increased development pressure from data centers' and needs time to study impacts on water and electricity and to amend its Land Development Code before approving any.
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In effect
Massillon OH Data Center Moratorium (60-day stay; extended through Aug 21, 2026)
Massillon, OH · Effective 2026-04-06 · Resolution Apr 6, 2026; extended June 15, 2026 (2026-04-06)
Council unanimously passed a 180-day moratorium on data center permits April 6, 2026; voted 8-0 on April 13 to scale it to a 60-day stay; allocated $15K for consultant review; extended another 60 days at the June 15 meeting (set to expire June 22, now extended through ~August 21, 2026).
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In effect
City of Fayetteville GA Ordinance 26-O-12
Fayetteville, GA · Effective 2026-03-05 · Ord. 26-O-12 (2026-03-05)
Prohibits new data centers in every City of Fayetteville zoning district — one of the first U.S. permanent (non-moratorium) data center prohibitions.
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In effect
Vienna Township OH 180-Day Data Center Moratorium
Vienna Township, OH · Effective 2026-02-15 · Trustees resolution Feb 2026 (2026-02-15)
2-1 vote for 180-day pause while drafting zoning that caps decibel levels and megawatt draw rather than banning the use outright.
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In effect
Hubbard Township OH One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
Hubbard Township, OH · Effective 2026-02-10 · Trustees resolution Feb 10, 2026 (2026-02-10)
2-1 trustee vote in response to 'Project Milo'; county planning commission asked to evaluate zoning text amendment.
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In effect
City of Covington GA 180-Day Data Center Moratorium
Covington, GA · Effective 2026-01-20 · Covington Ord. (Jan 2026) (2026-01-20)
Halts new data center applications; council moving to require Special Use Permit in M1/M2 districts plus supplemental standards. Expires ~July 19, 2026; second unanimous vote initiated SUP ordinance amendment process.
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In effect
The Dalles OR Aquifer Storage and Recovery System + Google Water Infrastructure
The Dalles, OR · Effective 2025-10-15 · City infrastructure agreement (completed Oct 2025) (2025-10-15)
City completed ASR system; Google-built water/sewer infrastructure transferred to city ownership. ~33% of city water now goes to Google data centers (vs 12% in 2012). HR 655 Dalles Watershed Development Act pending.
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Expired
Social Circle GA 90-Day Data Center Moratorium (extended; lifted upon code adopt
Social Circle, GA · Effective 2025-09-16 · Council Ord. (Sept 2025, extended Dec 2025) (2025-09-16)
Moratorium on new data center applications; replaced by amended city code on data centers and special-use permitting in January 2026.
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In effect
Mesa AZ Data Center Zoning Ordinance (Ord. No. 5957)
Mesa, AZ · Effective 2025-07-14 · Ord. No. 5957 (2025-07-14)
Council approved data center zoning rules — reclassifies data centers out of Indoor Warehousing/Storage, imposes infrastructure, noise, and environmental standards.
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In effect
Phoenix DC Zoning Standards
Phoenix, AZ · Effective 2025-07-02 · City of Phoenix, Zoning Ord. Text Amendment Z-TA-2-25-Y, Ordinance G-7396 (2025)
City of Phoenix zoning text amendment establishing development standards for data centers, including noise, screening, water, and minimum distance from residential zones.
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In effect
Johnson City Data Center Moratorium
Johnson City, TN · Effective 2025-06-05 · Johnson City, Tenn., Commission data center moratorium (adopted June 5, 2025; extended May 22, 2026 to Dec. 3, 2026)
Johnson City, Tennessee passed a one-year moratorium on data center construction on June 5, 2025, applying to land use applications and building permits for new data centers in the I-2 heavy industrial district. A companion text amendment limits data centers to the I-2 district. The Commission voted unanimously on May 22, 2026 to extend the moratorium to December 3, 2026, giving the city more time to study noise and other impacts and develop permanent regulations. The local utility BrightRidge also imposed a separate moratorium on data center project proposals in the region.
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In effect
Vancouver WA Data Center Zoning
Vancouver, WA · Effective 2024-10-01 · Vancouver WA Mun. Code title 20, Data Center Standards (2024)
City of Vancouver WA zoning amendments adding development standards for data centers including setbacks, noise limits, and water/energy disclosure.
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In effect
Goodyear AZ Microsoft Updated Development Agreement (air-cooling mandate)
Goodyear, AZ · Effective 2024-04-01 · Amended Development Agreement 2024 (2024-04-01)
Amended development agreement requires Microsoft's 4th and 5th data center buildings to use air cooling; $36M Microsoft commitment toward the $90M wastewater capacity expansion, $5M sewer-line financial assurance, $800K city coordinator funding.
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In effect
Groton Data Center Zoning Limit
Groton, CT · Effective 2023-07-14 · Groton, Conn., Zoning Regs § 5.1-6.F Data Center (adopted June 27, 2023; eff. July 14, 2023)
Groton's Planning and Zoning Commission adopted zoning regulations on June 27, 2023 that permanently limit data centers to no more than 12,500 square feet and prohibit water cooling systems — effectively barring hyperscale facilities that typically run 150,000 to 350,000 square feet. The regulations became effective July 14, 2023 (codified at Section 5.1-6.F of the Groton zoning code), making Groton one of the first US municipalities to cap data center size by right.
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In effect
Chandler Data Center Noise Ordinance
Chandler, AZ · Effective 2023-01-05 · City of Chandler, Ariz., Ord. No. 5033 (eff. Jan. 5, 2023)
Responding to resident complaints about constant noise from cooling equipment and crypto-mining operations, Chandler unanimously adopted zoning rules governing where and how data centers operate. New primary-use data centers are permitted only in Planned Area Development zones and must do baseline sound studies, keep operational noise below that baseline, repeat noise studies annually for five years, notify nearby residents, and limit backup-generator testing to weekday business hours.
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In effect
Chandler AZ Ordinance No. 5033
Chandler, AZ · Effective 2022-09-12 · Ord. 5033 (2022); Council 7-0 denial Dec 11, 2025 (2022-09-12)
Limits data centers to PAD areas, makes them ancillary use, requires noise studies/mitigation, expanded notice. December 11, 2025 — Council rejected a $2.5B AI data center at Queen Creek/Dobson Rd.
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In effect
Sharon PA data center zoning guardrails (July 2026)
Sharon, PA · City of Sharon, PA zoning ordinance on data center siting and operations (reported July 16, 2026)
Sharon, Pennsylvania (Mercer County, in the Shenango Valley) adopted zoning guardrails for data centers: they may only be sited in industrial districts and must meet operating requirements. The change was reported by WFMJ on July 16, 2026.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Akron OH data center review process (2026)
Akron, OH · City of Akron, Ohio — City Council, unanimous vote, 2026-07-27
Akron City Council unanimously passed a new zoning process for data centers on July 27, 2026, after two public hearings the same day. Data centers are now a defined land use requiring conditional-use approval from both the Planning Commission and City Council, and developers must disclose the project's impact on the electric grid, water consumption, the sanitary sewer system, and noise. Mayor Shammas Malik's administration crafted the proposal in response to resident concerns.
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In effect
Lochbuie CO data center moratorium (2026)
Lochbuie, CO · Town of Lochbuie, Colo. Ordinance No. 2026-720
Ordinance No. 2026-720 imposes a temporary moratorium on the submission, acceptance, processing, review and approval of all applications for any Town permit, license, land use approval or other approval for any data center within the Town of Lochbuie, and directs staff to refuse to accept for filing and to stop processing pending applications during the moratorium. It defines 'Data Center' broadly as any facility housing networked servers and IT equipment for off-site or on-site digital services; any facility whose primary use is storage, processing, management or transmission of digital data or support for cloud computing or AI services; or any computing or data-storage facility with electrical demand of 1 MW or greater, potable or non-potable water service exceeding 1% of the average-day capacity of the Town's water treatment plant, or wastewater discharge at or above 1% of the average-day capacity of its wastewater treatment plant. Continued operation of existing data centers is excluded, but expansions are subject to the moratorium.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Minneapolis Data Center Moratorium
Minneapolis, MN · Minneapolis, Minn., interim data center moratorium (May 22, 2026)
On May 22, 2026 the Minneapolis City Council voted 8–5 to impose a six-month moratorium on new large data centers while the city studies environmental and grid impacts and drafts zoning regulations. The pause targets facilities larger than 350,000 square feet and exempts smaller downtown developments — a size- and location-limited pause, not a total ban.
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In effect
Albany GA 12-month data center moratorium
Albany, GA · Effective 2026-07-28 · Albany, GA City Commission data center moratorium (adopted unanimously July 28, 2026)
Albany, Georgia's City Commission voted unanimously on July 28, 2026 to impose a 12-month moratorium on all new data center development, with an option to extend for an additional 6 months. Commissioners directed the Albany-Dougherty Planning Commission to draft permanent data-center siting ordinances and approved hiring an outside consultant to research best practices in other jurisdictions. The moratorium was driven by public concern over the impact of large data centers on the local Floridian Aquifer water system.
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In effect
Paris TN temporary data center moratorium (2026)
Paris, TN · Effective 2026-06-30 · City of Paris, Tenn. — Paris Commission action, June 30, 2026 (voice vote)
The Paris Commission voted (voice vote, all present in favor, one commissioner absent) on June 30, 2026 to enact a temporary moratorium on data centers. It has no fixed end date — it remains in effect until an outside consultant finishes reworking the city's zoning ordinances, which the city attorney estimated could take almost a year.
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In effect
120-day moratorium on new data center applications
Springfield, Missouri · Effective 2026-06-29 · 120-day moratorium on new data center applications
Springfield's City Council voted 8-0 to pause acceptance of new data center applications for 120 days (through November 17, 2026) while the city develops a public-interest evaluation framework covering land use, utility, noise, and air impacts.
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In effect
One-year moratorium on data center development (Inver Grove Heights MN)
Inver Grove Heights · Effective 2026-06-26 · Inver Grove Heights interim moratorium ordinance on data centers (June 26, 2026)
Inver Grove Heights City Council voted 3-2 on June 26, 2026 to approve a one-year interim moratorium on new data center development while the city studies zoning, infrastructure, and land-use impacts. The vote came after a developer with a pending proposal at the former Travel Tags property on Carmen Avenue threatened more than $150 million in damages if the moratorium passed.
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In effect
Temporary Moratorium on New Data Center Applications
Homewood, AL · Effective 2026-06-22 · Temporary Moratorium on New Data Center Applications
Homewood City Council approved a temporary moratorium on new data center development applications to give the city time to evaluate impacts and prepare regulations.
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In effect
One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
Cullman, AL · Effective 2026-06-22 · One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
Cullman City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data center development, with penalties for violations while the city drafts regulations.
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In effect
Milton GA 30-day data-center moratorium (June 2026)
Milton, Georgia · Effective 2026-06-18 · Milton (GA) City Council unanimous resolution — 30-day data-center moratorium (June 18, 2026)
The Milton, Georgia City Council voted unanimously on June 18, 2026 to impose a 30-day moratorium on all data center activity in the city — covering new applications, permits, rezoning requests, business licenses, and certificates of occupancy — while the city reviews its land-use policies for such facilities. Milton is an affluent north Fulton County suburb in the Atlanta metro area.
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In effect
Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year)
Superior, WI · Effective 2026-06-16 · Superior, WI City Council resolution (June 16, 2026), one-year data center moratorium
The Superior, Wisconsin City Council unanimously passed a one-year moratorium on data centers on June 16, 2026, even though no project had been proposed — councilmembers said they wanted zoning, utility-rate, and infrastructure rules in place before any 'blindside' application arrives. The pause was prompted partly by a nearly $2 billion Google data-center complex proposed across the border in Hermantown, Minnesota.
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In effect
San Marcos citywide data center ban (Land Use Matrix amendme
San Marcos · Effective 2026-06-16 · San Marcos citywide data center ban (Land Use Matrix amendment)
The San Marcos City Council voted 4-3 to amend its development code's Land Use Matrix to prohibit data centers in all zoning districts, making it the first Texas city to ban them (though later partly preempted by state SB 2272).
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In effect
Emergency 365-day moratorium on new data centers (>20 MVA)
Seattle · Effective 2026-06-09 · Seattle CB 121214 (2026)
Emergency 365-day temporary freeze on new data center siting in Seattle. Defines data centers as facilities with power capacity over 20 megavolt-amperes (MVA) used primarily to store and process digital data. May be extended for an additional six months. A public hearing is required within 60 days of adoption.
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In effect
Resolution setting Seattle data-center impact-study framework
Seattle · Effective 2026-06-09 · Seattle Res 32204 (2026)
Companion resolution to CB 121214. Calls for impact studies on data centers' effects on electrical grid reliability, water consumption, environmental sustainability, utility rates, land use, employment, public health, and community welfare. Requests coordinated cross-departmental action to develop future policies.
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In effect
Hyperscale Data Center Zoning Ordinance (20-point community
Birmingham, AL · Effective 2026-06-09 · Hyperscale Data Center Zoning Ordinance (20-point community protections)
Birmingham City Council adopted a comprehensive zoning ordinance imposing 20 conditions on hyperscale data centers, including setbacks, closed-loop cooling, and noise mitigation.
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In effect
Moratorium on data center permits, development plans and zon
Lexington-Fayette Urban County, KY · Effective 2026-06-09 · Moratorium on data center permits, development plans and zone changes
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council unanimously enacted a moratorium pausing data center permits, development-plan acceptances and zone changes through October 31, 2026, while it drafts a zoning ordinance text amendment for data centers.
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In effect
One-Year Moratorium on New Data Center Development (Ordinanc
Leeds, AL · Effective 2026-06-08 · One-Year Moratorium on New Data Center Development (Ordinance 2026-06-02)
Leeds City Council approved a one-year moratorium pausing acceptance, processing, and approval of new data center development applications while it studies regulations.
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In effect
Coachella Data Center Moratorium
Coachella, CA · Effective 2026-06-04 · Coachella, Cal., 45-day data center moratorium (adopted June 4, 2026)
On June 4, 2026 the Coachella City Council unanimously approved a temporary 45-day moratorium on new data center applications and terminated its agreement with Stronghold Power Systems, which had proposed a 400-plus-acre, six-data-center 'Coachella Valley Technology Campus' on the city's east side. Council members said they will pursue zoning and other tools toward a possible permanent ban and revisit the issue July 9, 2026.
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In effect
Industrial Zoning Ordinance Regulating Data Centers
Little Rock, AR · Effective 2026-06-03 · Industrial Zoning Ordinance Regulating Data Centers
Little Rock's Board of Directors unanimously amended industrial zoning ordinances to regulate data centers, requiring water-use reports and setting noise limits, after declining to enact a moratorium.
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In effect
Six-month moratorium on data centers >350,000 sq ft (Minneapolis)
Minneapolis · Effective 2026-05-22 · Minneapolis interim data center moratorium ordinance (May 22, 2026)
Six-month moratorium on the construction, re-establishment, or expansion of data centers larger than 350,000 square feet anywhere in Minneapolis. As an interim ordinance, it took effect immediately and did not require the mayor's signature. Exempts data center projects under 350,000 sq ft within the downtown core.
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In effect
Smithfield Town Council data center zoning ban ordinance
Smithfield, RI · Effective 2026-05-05 · Smithfield Town Council data center zoning ban ordinance
The Smithfield Town Council voted 4-1 to adopt a zoning amendment listing data centers as a 'not permitted' use in every zoning district, taking effect 30 days after the vote.
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In effect
Indianapolis-Marion County data-center pause resolution
Indianapolis/Marion County · Effective 2026-05-04 · Indianapolis City-County Council data-center pause resolution (May 4, 2026)
Special resolution unanimously approved by the Indianapolis City-County Council calling on the city's Metropolitan Development Commission to temporarily stop approving new data centers. Accompanied by ongoing drafting of a zoning ordinance setting a maximum 65 dB noise limit at property lines, restrictions on backup-generator testing, required physical buffers (berms, fencing, tree lines), and disclosure of power/water capacity and infrastructure connections.
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In effect
One-year moratorium on data center development
Cave City, KY · Effective 2026-05-01 · One-year moratorium on data center development
Cave City, a small community near Mammoth Cave National Park, passed a one-year moratorium on data center development after being approached by a developer.
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In effect
OKC emergency data-center moratorium through end of 2026
Oklahoma City · Effective 2026-04-22 · Oklahoma City data-center emergency moratorium (April 22, 2026)
Emergency moratorium on new zoning and development applications for data centers in Oklahoma City through the end of 2026. Specifically prohibits rezoning requests for data centers and creates an appeals process for projects seeking exemption. Two proposed data centers already in the permitting pipeline are exempt.
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In effect
Data center moratorium (4 months with extension option)
Lenox Township, MI · Effective 2026-02-02 · Data center moratorium (4 months with extension option)
The Charter Township of Lenox adopted a moratorium on new data center development effective February 2, 2026, to review zoning, infrastructure capacity and land-use impacts.
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In effect
Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year)
Madison, WI · Effective 2026-02-01 · City of Madison, WI one-year data-center moratorium (Feb. 2026)
Madison, Wisconsin's Common Council approved a one-year moratorium on issuing zoning approvals for new data centers larger than 10,000 sq ft while city staff develop permanent land-use and zoning standards for data-center uses.
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In effect
Temporary moratorium on new data centers
New Orleans, LA · Effective 2026-01-28 · Temporary moratorium on new data centers
The New Orleans City Council imposed a temporary moratorium of up to two years on new data centers, server farms and cryptocurrency mining facilities and directed the Planning Commission to draft a data center zoning classification.
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In effect
180-day data center moratorium
Springfield Township, MI · Effective 2025-12-01 · 180-day data center moratorium
The Springfield Township Board of Trustees approved a 180-day moratorium barring data center plans from being accepted or approved and directing the planning commission to amend the zoning ordinance.
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In effect
Zoning Amendment Allowing Data Centers as Industrial Use
Bessemer, AL · Effective 2025-10-07 · Zoning Amendment Allowing Data Centers as Industrial Use
Bessemer City Council amended its zoning laws to include data centers as an allowable use within the city's industrial zoning classification despite public opposition.
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In effect
Tucson Project Blue Rejection
Tucson, AZ · Effective 2025-08-06 · Tucson Mayor and Council action, Aug. 6, 2025
On August 6, 2025, the Tucson City Council voted 7-0 to reject annexation and a development agreement for Project Blue, a roughly 290-acre data center campus that would have become the city's largest water user, after intense public opposition over secrecy and water use. The city is now drafting tighter rules for future data center development.
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In effect
Austin AI Governance Resolution (2025)
Austin, TX · Effective 2025-04-24 · City of Austin, Tex., Resolution 20250424-055 (adopted Apr. 24, 2025)
The Austin City Council voted unanimously on April 24, 2025 to adopt Resolution 20250424-055, establishing an ethical AI governance framework for municipal operations. The resolution prohibits real-time employee surveillance by AI, bans AI-based productivity scoring or behavioral monitoring without human supervisor review and verification, bars AI from automated policing decisions, and creates a 'no displacement without consultation' labor policy guaranteeing that no AI system will significantly alter or eliminate job classifications without prior notice and consultation with affected employees and their unions. It also requires an annual public audit of all city AI use, mandates human review and oversight for all AI-influenced decisions, and directs the City Manager to study the environmental and equity impacts of data centers in the region. Sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes.
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In effect
Memphis xAI Colossus Permits
Memphis, TN · Effective 2024-08-29 · Shelby Co. Health Dept., Air Construction Permit, xAI Colossus (2024)
Shelby County Health Department air-permit approval for gas turbines powering xAI's Colossus AI data center in south Memphis, subject to ongoing environmental-justice challenges.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Logan Ordinance 26-12 - Temporary Land Use Ordinance (data c
Logan · Logan Ordinance 26-12 - Temporary Land Use Ordinance (data center moratorium)
The Logan Municipal Council passed Ordinance 26-12, a temporary land use ordinance imposing a 180-day moratorium on data centers while the city drafts regulations.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Town of Clay one-year data center moratorium and Battery Ene
Town of Clay · Town of Clay one-year data center moratorium and Battery Energy Storage System Law
The Clay Town Board approved a one-year moratorium halting applications for large-scale data centers, AI computing facilities, and cryptocurrency operations while the town develops regulations, alongside a new Battery Energy Storage System Law.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
City of Lynn Haven one-year AI data center moratorium
City of Lynn Haven · City of Lynn Haven one-year AI data center moratorium
The Lynn Haven City Commission enacted a one-year moratorium prohibiting city staff from accepting, processing, or approving any AI data center or data center development proposals.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Sherman Township 12-Month Moratorium on Data Centers
Sherman Township, Huron County, Michigan · Sherman Township 12-Month Moratorium on Data Centers
Sherman Township approved a 12-month moratorium halting acceptance and approval of new data center development.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Somerville 18-Month Data Center Moratorium
Somerville, Tennessee · Somerville 18-Month Data Center Moratorium
The Somerville Town Council approved an 18-month pause on data centers amid a dispute over a proposed bitcoin mining facility.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Lewisville Data Center Special-Use Permit Ordinance
Lewisville, Texas · Lewisville Data Center Special-Use Permit Ordinance
Lewisville unanimously approved an ordinance requiring AI data centers to obtain a special-use permit and prohibiting them in residential areas.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Westfield One-Year Data Center Moratorium
Westfield, Massachusetts · Westfield One-Year Data Center Moratorium
The Westfield City Council made the moratorium official on July 6, 2026 with a unanimous second-reading vote, imposing a 12-month (365-day) ban on new data centers while it studies zoning and health impacts.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Solon Township six-month moratorium on data center proposals
Solon Township (Kent County) · Solon Township six-month moratorium on data center proposals
The Solon Township Board unanimously enacted a six-month moratorium barring the township from accepting any data center proposals while it drafts a zoning ordinance regulating data centers' noise, water use, and power usage.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Berlin Township Data Center Ordinance
Berlin Township, Wayne County · Berlin Township Data Center Ordinance
Berlin Township in Wayne County, PA passed a data center ordinance setting mitigation limits on noise, water depletion, diesel backup generators, heat, light, and radiation for data center development.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
One-year moratorium on new data centers
Burien · One-year moratorium on new data centers
The Burien, WA City Council unanimously enacted an immediate one-year moratorium on new data centers to give staff time to study impacts and draft regulations.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
180-Day Curative Amendment Moratorium on Data Center Zoning
Hazle Township, Luzerne County · 180-Day Curative Amendment Moratorium on Data Center Zoning
Hazle Township supervisors unanimously enacted a 180-day curative amendment imposing a moratorium while officials draft new zoning rules specifically regulating data centers and data center accessory uses.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
One-Year Moratorium on New Data Center Development
Asheville · One-Year Moratorium on New Data Center Development
The Asheville City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on new data center development so staff can define data centers in the city's development ordinance and create zoning rules.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
180-Day Moratorium on Data Center Development
Brookville Borough · 180-Day Moratorium on Data Center Development
Brookville Borough Council (Jefferson County) unanimously passed a 180-day moratorium on data center development, pausing projects into December while the borough drafts regulations, largely over water-supply concerns.
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Proposed / pending
SU-47 Special-Use Data Center Zoning District Ordinance
Indianapolis / Marion County · SU-47 Special-Use Data Center Zoning District Ordinance
The Metropolitan Development Commission voted 5-3 to advance to the City-County Council a proposed SU-47 special-use zoning ordinance setting minimum standards for future data centers, including public hearings, noise limits, setbacks, and water-management and operations plans.
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Blocked / in litigation
Boulder City NV appeal vs BLM data center approval (authorized July 14, 2026)
Boulder City, NV · Boulder City, NV council authorization, July 14, 2026, appeal and stay request vs BLM Townsite data center approval
Boulder City, Nevada is fighting a federally approved data center. On July 14, 2026 the city council voted to appeal the Bureau of Land Management's approval of the Townsite data center project on BLM land near the city, and to seek a stay that would pause the project while the appeal is heard. The appeal must be filed by July 27, 2026.
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In effect
Peru IN temporary data center moratorium (2026)
Peru, IN · City of Peru, Ind. — Planning Commission action (date not specified in coverage, reported 2026-07-03)
The City of Peru put a temporary hold on new data centers within city limits while it works out a permanent ordinance, which it plans to model on neighboring Miami County's approach. City Council President Tim Fischer described it as a placeholder: 'until we can get an ordinance in place where we can have some rules and guidelines for bringing data centers into the city limits.'
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Blocked / in litigation
Warrenton Amazon Data Center Fight
Warrenton, VA · Town of Warrenton SUP (Feb. 2023); Citizens for Fauquier County v. Town of Warrenton
Warrenton's zoning requires a special use permit for data centers; in February 2023 the Town Council narrowly approved one for an Amazon facility. Citizens for Fauquier County sued over both the zoning approval and related public-records (FOIA) access. In 2024, the Virginia Court of Appeals reversed the trial court and sided with the citizens' group on the FOIA matter, ordering review of over 3,100 withheld emails. The underlying land-use challenge and construction delays continued into 2025–2026.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Indianapolis Data Center Pause Resolution
Indianapolis, IN · Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council, Proposal No. 158 (2026)
In May 2026 the Indianapolis City-County Council unanimously passed a resolution urging the Metropolitan Development Commission to stop approving new data centers until May 7, 2027 or until permanent regulations pass. Because it is a resolution rather than a binding ordinance, it is a soft pause; a companion draft ordinance would create a special-use zoning district with noise and setback requirements.
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Blocked / in litigation
Memphis xAI Permit Challenge
Memphis, TN · Inside Climate News, June 2026
Memphis NAACP and community groups filed an administrative challenge to the air permits supporting xAI's Colossus data center, citing methane-gas-turbine emissions in South Memphis.
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Proposed / pending
Proposed 183-day moratorium on data center construction and
Jackson, MS · Proposed 183-day moratorium on data center construction and permitting (tabled pending public hearing)
The Jackson City Council tabled a proposed 183-day moratorium on data center construction and permitting authored by Council President Brian Grizzell, with legal review requiring a public hearing before any zoning ordinance vote.
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Proposed / pending
Nottingham Planning Board pursuing a local data center morat
Nottingham, NH · Nottingham Planning Board pursuing a local data center moratorium
After backlash to a proposed warehouse-to-data-center conversion on Route 4, Nottingham's planning board held a June 3, 2026 workshop to move toward a local moratorium and regulation of data centers.
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Proposed / pending
91-day pause on data center development
Sanford, ME · 91-day pause on data center development
The Sanford City Council voted to institute a 91-day pause on data center development, stalling a proposed 1,000-acre project and creating a task force to recommend municipal regulations.
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Proposed / pending
Indianapolis temporary data center moratorium (committee advanced July 13, 2026)
Indianapolis/Marion County · Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee, 10-3 vote July 13, 2026, recommending temporary data center moratorium through Dec. 31, 2027
The Indianapolis City-County Council's Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee voted 10-3 on July 13, 2026 to advance a temporary moratorium on approving new data centers through December 31, 2027. Mayor Joe Hogsett publicly endorsed the moratorium after the committee vote. The full City-County Council is scheduled to vote on August 10, 2026. If enacted, the moratorium would not apply retroactively to projects that have already secured municipal zoning clearances. This is a binding ordinance proposal — separate from the non-binding pause resolution (Proposal 158) passed in May 2026, and from the parallel permanent SU-47 special use district zoning amendment also advancing through the council.
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Proposed / pending
Spring City TN 2-year data center moratorium (final reading July 30, 2026)
Spring City, TN · Spring City, TN 2-year data center moratorium, first reading July 16, 2026; final reading July 30, 2026
Spring City, Tennessee (Rhea County, on Watts Bar Lake) is considering a two-year moratorium on data centers. Commissioners advanced the measure on first reading on July 16, 2026; a final reading is set for July 30, 2026.
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Proposed / pending
Catawissa Township PA Data Center Overlay, Ord. 01-2026 (hearing July 30, 2026)
Catawissa Township, PA · Catawissa Township, PA proposed Ordinance 01-2026 (Data Center Overlay), public hearing July 30, 2026
Catawissa Township in Columbia County, Pennsylvania has proposed Ordinance 01-2026, which would create a Data Center Overlay district — restricting where data centers can be sited in the township via a designated overlay map. A public hearing is scheduled for July 30, 2026.
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Proposed / pending
Minneola FL 1-year data center moratorium (final reading July 21, 2026)
Minneola, FL · City of Minneola, FL 1-year data center moratorium ordinance, advanced July 2026; final reading July 21, 2026
Minneola, Florida (Lake County, in the fast-growing area northwest of Orlando) has advanced a one-year moratorium on new data centers. The final reading is scheduled for July 21, 2026. Lake County has been advancing parallel data center policies.
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Proposed / pending
Indianapolis MDC data center special zoning proposal (July 2026)
Indianapolis, IN · Indianapolis MDC 5-3 vote (July 1, 2026) recommending data center special zoning district ordinance; City-County Council final vote pending
Indianapolis's Metropolitan Development Commission voted 5-3 on July 1, 2026 to recommend creating a new special zoning class for data centers in Marion County. The proposed ordinance would regulate where data centers can be built and how close they can sit to residences, set noise limits (the MDC debated returning to 65 dB from a proposed 55 dB), and require water management plans, annual reporting on water use and power consumption, noise compliance studies, and decommissioning/environmental-remediation plans. A motion to remove the decommissioning-plan requirement failed 6-2. The ordinance now heads to the full City-County Council for final approval, expected in August 2026.
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Proposed / pending
Nashville/Davidson County temporary moratorium on data centers
Nashville-Davidson County · Metro Nashville/Davidson data-center moratorium ordinance (first reading June 10, 2026)
Temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing, approval and issuance of zoning, building or grading permits for data centers across Davidson County. Cites high electrical demand, backup generators, fuel storage, battery systems, substations, cooling, noise, lighting, stormwater, security fencing, and 24-hour operations. Two companion zoning bills (also introduced June 2) would define data centers in Metro code, create size-and-power categories, and set siting conditions.
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Proposed / pending
Fayetteville data-center ordinance (public hearing Aug 10, 2026)
Fayetteville, North Carolina · Fayetteville (NC) proposed data-center ordinance (active deliberation June 8, 2026)
Proposed data center ordinance for Fayetteville. After an initial April 27 vote to delay 120 days, council voted 8-2 on June 8 to revive the draft and schedule a public hearing for August 10, 2026. The ordinance would set rules for data center siting and operation within Fayetteville city limits (Cumberland County's moratorium applies only to unincorporated areas).
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Proposed / pending
City of Manassas VA Data Center Zoning Standards
Manassas, VA · City of Manassas, Va., Ordinance O-2026-455 (zoning text amendment; first reading approved Feb 9, 2026)
Manassas is amending its zoning ordinance (Ordinance O-2026-455) to add development standards for data centers and other large industrial uses in the city's I-1 light-industrial and I-2 heavy-industrial districts. The City Council unanimously approved the first reading on February 9, 2026; a second reading and final adoption vote were expected at a later meeting. Final adoption is not yet confirmed.
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Proposed / pending
Indianapolis data center moratorium (Council 23-1 Aug 10; MDC approval pending)
Indianapolis, IN · Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council, Zoning Ordinance Amendment (committee-approved 10-3, August 3, 2026; full council 23-1 vote August 10, 2026; MDC final approval pending ~August 19, 2026)
The Metropolitan Economic Development Committee of the Indianapolis City-County Council voted 10-3 on August 3, 2026 to recommend approval of a Zoning Ordinance Amendment imposing a moratorium on data centers through at least December 31, 2027. The committee vote fell along party lines: all 10 yes votes were Democrats and all 3 no votes were Republicans. The full 29-member City-County Council is scheduled to vote on August 10, 2026. Council President Maggie Lewis announced support for the moratorium after months of community pressure from residents and environmental groups, and Mayor Joe Hogsett also supports the measure. The moratorium would pause acceptance and processing of land-use applications, site plans, and building permits for data centers within Indianapolis-Marion County.
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Proposed / pending
Columbus OH proposed data center regulations — water, sewer, decommissioning (vote expected Aug 24+)
Columbus, OH · Columbus OH City Council proposed data center ordinances (water use / sewer / decommissioning); public hearings July 21-23, 2026; full vote expected after August 24, 2026
Columbus City Council is advancing three proposed ordinances to regulate data centers in the city, focusing on water consumption, sewer infrastructure, and decommissioning obligations for closed facilities. The council held public hearings on July 21 and 23, 2026, drawing hundreds of residents — many demanding a moratorium — but Councilmember Christopher Wyche confirmed the city is not proposing a ban, only targeted regulations. The city passed a preliminary oversight measure on July 10. A full council vote on the three ordinances is expected after the council returns from summer recess on August 24, 2026. Columbus is projected to become the second-largest data center hub in the Great Lakes region, making it the first major Central Ohio jurisdiction to pursue citywide regulatory standards (distinct from surrounding municipalities that chose moratoriums).
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Proposed / pending
Fairfax IA permanent ban on high-impact data centers (no end date; second reading July 28)
Fairfax, IA · Fairfax, IA City Council, ordinance prohibiting High-Impact Data Centers (first reading 3-1, July 14, 2026; second reading July 28, 2026)
The Fairfax, Iowa City Council voted 3-1 on July 14, 2026 to advance on first reading an ordinance that would permanently prohibit 'High-Impact Data Centers' within the city with no expiration date. Councilman Dan Wozniak introduced the measure. Councilman Michael Daly cast the sole no vote, arguing the action was premature and objecting to the permanent nature of the ban. A second reading was scheduled for July 28, 2026; the outcome of that meeting and whether the mayor has signed the ordinance is not yet confirmed. KCRG (Cedar Rapids ABC affiliate) characterized the vote as approving a 'ban' with 'no end date'; CBS2 Iowa characterized it as approving a 'moratorium on large AI data centers.' Fairfax is a small city in Linn County near Cedar Rapids and has been cited as only the second Iowa municipality to pursue a permanent outright data center ban, after Ida County. The ordinance as reported does not define 'High-Impact Data Center' numerically in available coverage.
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Proposed / pending
San Antonio DC Water Disclosure
San Antonio, TX · Data Center Frontier, June 2026
San Antonio council members proposed requiring data centers served by San Antonio Water System to publicly disclose annual water consumption.
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Proposed / pending
Indianapolis DC Zoning
Indianapolis, IN · Data Center Dynamics, June 2026
Indianapolis's City-County Council introduced zoning standards requiring conditional approval, setbacks from residential zones, and noise studies for new data centers.
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Proposed / pending
Indianapolis SU-47 District (draft)
Indianapolis, IN · Indianapolis-Marion County, draft SU-47 ordinance (pending, 2026)
Indianapolis is writing a new rule book for data centers: a draft ordinance would create a special zoning district (SU-47) just for data centers, forcing every project through a rezoning with public hearings, a 65-decibel property-line noise cap, 200-foot separation from residential districts, and required water-management and decommissioning plans.
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Proposed / pending
Calipatria CA Data Center Moratorium (introduced)
Calipatria, CA · City of Calipatria, Cal., Ordinance No. 26 (introduced May 12, 2026; five-year framing, CEQA-bounded)
Calipatria, California's City Council voted 4-0 on May 12, 2026 (one absent) to introduce a temporary five-year moratorium on new and expanded large-scale data centers, intended to give the city time to study impacts and update zoning. Mayor Maria Luellen acknowledged the five-year framing exceeds California's CEQA one-year cap, so the practical effect is a one-year pause with potential six-month renewals. The public hearing date will be set once city staff finalizes ordinance language.
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Proposed / pending
Wausau WI Data Center Zoning (proposed)
Wausau, WI · City of Wausau, Wis., proposed data center zoning text amendment (Plan Commission hearing June 16, 2026)
Wausau, Wisconsin's Plan Commission held its first public hearing June 16, 2026 on proactive zoning rules for data centers. The proposed amendment would define what counts as a data center and require any future applicant to disclose water use, wastewater, energy demand, and noise levels before the city would consider the project. There is no specific data center proposed in Wausau today — the city is preparing rules before one arrives.