Grand County adopts 180‑day pause on data‑center applications to craft rules

The Grand County Commission voted unanimously on July 7 to adopt a 180‑day 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.

Planning director Andrew Jackson told the commission the pause is intended to preserve a clean slate while county staff and consultants craft permanent permit standards. "Our latest code today contains no definition of a data center, no use classification and no standards for water, power, noise, lighting or visual impact against which we would evaluate an application," Jackson said in opening remarks.

Jackson said there were no pending data‑center applications in the county’s queue and described the temporary regulation as a limited, precautionary measure: it preserves the status quo while the county finishes a permanent ordinance. The planning department is working with consultants and partners, and Jackson said the county will try to align local rules with evolving state law and with peer jurisdictions in Utah.

Commissioners asked about public participation during the drafting period; Jackson said formal changes to the code will go through the standard public‑hearing process at the planning commission and the county commission and that staff expects hearings this fall once drafting is complete. Several commissioners and members of the public urged broader outreach; one resident suggested workshops or a public survey to gather community input on tradeoffs and protections.

The temporary regulation takes effect on passage and will remain in force for 180 days while staff completes the code drafting process. The commission directed staff to accept written comments through the posted deadline and to return a draft permanent ordinance for planning‑commission review and public hearing when ready.