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Commission adopts 180‑day pause on data‑center applications while zoning standards are drafted
Summary
Grand County adopted a temporary 180‑day land‑use regulation pausing acceptance and processing of data‑center, data‑center power plant and related infrastructure applications so staff can draft permanent definitions and objective standards; planning staff said no such applications were pending.
Grand County commissioners on July 7 adopted a temporary land‑use regulation that pauses the county’s acceptance and processing of applications for data centers, data‑center power plants and associated digital infrastructure for 180 days while staff and consultants draft permanent code language.
Planning Director Andrew Jackson said the pause preserves a "clean slate" so the county can adopt objective definitions and performance standards — for example on water and noise — rather than evaluating applications under a code that currently lacks definitions for these uses. Jackson said no data‑center applications were on the county’s counter at the time of the vote and described the measure as a limited, interim action.
The temporary regulation will allow staff to align county code with evolving state law, peer jurisdictions' approaches and best practices from stakeholder groups such as the Utah Association of Counties. Jackson said draft language will be subject to the standard public hearing process before the planning commission and county commission.
The commission voted to adopt the 180‑day pause effective upon passage; staff committed to publishing redlines, offering public comment opportunities and returning the proposed permanent standards before the temporary measure expires.
