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Polk County adopts data‑center ordinance and imposes 60‑day moratorium to update zoning
Summary
Polk County commissioners on March 3 added ‘Chapter 33 – Data Centers’ to the county code and imposed a 60‑day moratorium on all data‑center development to allow time to strengthen zoning standards; the measure passed 6‑0.
Polk County commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance amendment on March 3 to add “Chapter 33 – Data Centers” to the county code and placed a 60‑day moratorium on data‑center development.
Commissioner Linda Liles moved to approve the ordinance amendment and the moratorium; Commissioner Michael Gravett seconded. Chairman Chuck Thaxton called for the motion, and the board voted 6‑0 to pass it.
The ordinance’s stated purpose is to set standards for data centers that protect public health and safety while mitigating adverse impacts to natural resources, infrastructure and adjacent land uses. The ordinance text cited three specific areas of concern: water supply issues, electrical grid capacity and environmental quality.
The moratorium will pause new data‑center permitting for 60 days while the county refines zoning language and standards. The board record does not list specific next procedural steps beyond adoption of the ordinance and the moratorium at the March 3 meeting.
The action was taken as a single motion and passed unanimously.
