The Board of Commissioners voted to extend the moratorium on permitting new data centers and expansions in unincorporated DeKalb County until Dec. 16, 2025, after planning staff recommended the extension to allow time for draft regulations and public review.

Planning staff said the moratorium provides time to craft guardrails—buffers, noise and water protections, public notice and permitting processes—and to route draft regulations through community council, planning commission and subsequent board hearings. Staff noted many other counties that have adopted special land-use or permitting processes now require a special land-use permit for data centers so proposals undergo public hearings.

Public commenters urged a longer pause or a permanent ban. Residents raised concerns about noise, power consumption, water use, chemicals for cooling, job density (few operational jobs on large sites), and the scale of campus-style data-center proposals. Several speakers urged a complete ban on campus data centers and said minor data centers under strict controls might be acceptable.

The board’s extension motion passed after commissioners urged public participation in upcoming meetings: a town hall, community council input and planning commission review. County officials said draft rules will aim to preserve opportunities for adaptive reuse of industrial buildings while limiting large campus-style projects in residential or high‑value land areas.