Grant County adopts 24-month moratorium on data-center permits
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Summary
The Grant County Board of Commissioners on March 16 adopted Ordinance 4-2026 imposing a 24-month temporary moratorium on improvement-location permits for data centers in unincorporated areas while the Area Planning Commission studies definitions and zoning changes.
Grant County commissioners voted March 16 to impose a 24-month temporary moratorium on permitting for data-center projects in the unincorporated areas of the county.
The ordinance, approved unanimously, halts issuance or receipt of improvement-location permits and related applications for structures connected to data centers until the Area Planning Commission completes a study and recommends amendments to the county zoning ordinance. County Attorney Mr. Harker said the moratorium is intended to give planning staff time for public meetings and to draft clear standards for siting, installation, operation and drainage tied to public health and safety concerns.
The text cited state law as authority for the action (IC 36-7-2-8 and IC 36-8-4-603). The ordinance will remain in effect for 24 months or until an amendment to the Grant County zoning ordinance addressing data centers is adopted, whichever occurs first. Commissioners directed the planning commission to hold public meetings and report back with recommended zoning language.
Area Planning Commission members and residents have already been engaged in the issue: a planning subcommittee with three citizen members and four commission members held an initial session that drew a standing-room-only turnout, the board heard. An APC member told commissioners the group began discussion in September 2025 and has been collecting examples from other counties for ordinance language.
Commissioners framed the moratorium as a procedural pause — not a prohibition on future development — to permit a public process to define the term “data center” and to identify locations where such projects would be allowed or restricted. The county will publish upcoming APC meetings on the county website so the public can follow the process.
The ordinance takes effect upon passage, approval and publication as required by law. No timeline for the APC’s final recommendation was set during the meeting; commissioners and staff said they expect the APC to schedule public meetings as part of its review.
