Bay County enacts temporary moratorium regarding data centers
Bay County Commissioners have enacted a temporary six-month moratorium on data center development, effective immediately. This pause allows county staff to evaluate and develop appropriate land development regulations. The moratorium also includes specific requirements to cover smaller-scale data centers, expanding on language from Senate Bill 484.
Bay County Commissioners approved and enacted a temporary six-month moratorium on data center development, effective immediately. The decision, made during a morning meeting, provides county staff with the necessary time to evaluate existing land development regulations and consider other relevant factors concerning data center projects.
The original ordinance was drafted referencing the language of Florida's Senate Bill 484, which defines a large-scale data center as one utilizing 50 megawatts or more of electricity. However, the commissioners opted to enhance the moratorium by incorporating additional, more specific requirements designed to also encompass smaller-scale data center facilities.
This measure aims to allow for careful planning and the establishment of comprehensive guidelines before further data center construction proceeds within Bay County.