Chisago County enacts interim moratorium on data centers

Chisago County’s Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 5 to enact an interim zoning moratorium on data centers while county staff study potential land-use and infrastructure impacts.

The action followed a public hearing held at 7:02 p.m., during which three speakers addressed the proposed ordinance. The Board recessed and reconvened under applicable county ordinance provisions before passing the measure; the motion carried with all five commissioners voting in favor (Swenson, Greene, Dunne, Montzka, Dahlberg).

County officials said the moratorium is temporary and intended to provide time for staff and the Planning Commission to review zoning, permitting, utility capacity and other development considerations specific to data-center projects. No effective-dates or sunset terms were stated in the meeting minutes; further specifics on the ordinance number (listed as Ordinance No. 2026/0805-____ in the record) and written ordinance language will be posted to county records, the Board said.

The Board did not take immediate permitting action on any specific proposal during the Aug. 5 meeting. The moratorium means the county will pause accepting or approving new land-use permits or approvals for data-center development while it evaluates regulatory and infrastructure questions.