Cherokee County approves data center moratorium
Cherokee County commissioners have approved a 30-day moratorium on data center development. This pause is intended to allow staff time to research and draft a comprehensive ordinance specifically addressing data center use, with plans to extend the moratorium through early 2027.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved a 30-day moratorium on new data center development, effective immediately. The decision, made on Tuesday, aims to provide the county's Community Development Agency with time to research and develop a comprehensive ordinance specifically tailored for data center use, as no such regulations currently exist.
According to Community Development Director Brantley Day, similar projects have been proposed or built in neighboring counties across Georgia, highlighting the need for specific guidelines in Cherokee County. The moratorium is expected to be extended for an additional 180 days after a public hearing scheduled for August 18 at the Cherokee County Administration Building in Canton, potentially pausing development through mid-February 2027.
Officials confirmed that there are no pending data center applications in the county at present. This proactive measure will allow the county to study successful and unsuccessful policies from other jurisdictions to craft an ordinance that aligns with Cherokee County's future land use vision.