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County Imposes 12‑Month Moratorium on Data-Center Applications to Draft Standards
Summary
The Board adopted a 12-month temporary moratorium (Resolution 26-7) halting processing of data-center applications while staff crafts zoning and design standards to address land, energy and infrastructure impacts.
Queen Anne's County commissioners on May 26 adopted a 12-month temporary moratorium on the approval and processing of applications for data centers, directing county zoning staff to draft standards addressing land use, siting, energy demand and related infrastructure concerns.
The moratorium (Resolution 26-7) applies to new applications for data-center uses while staff evaluates appropriate zones, design criteria and permit thresholds.
Commissioners noted multiple Maryland jurisdictions are considering similar pauses to allow time to develop locally appropriate standards given the large land and energy footprint of modern data centers.
The moratorium was adopted by voice vote. County staff said they had already been working on draft language and welcomed the temporary pause to finalize definitions and siting rules.
Next steps: staff will work with the planning and zoning teams to prepare draft standards and return to the board before the 12-month period expires.
