Wakulla County bans data centers with new ordinance
Wakulla County, Florida, has officially banned data centers throughout the county after commissioners unanimously voted to enact a new ordinance. The decision was supported by residents, with commissioners citing concerns over the potential impacts on rural areas, including water and electrical systems. The ordinance amends the Land Development Code to explicitly prohibit data centers in all unincorporated areas.
The Wakulla County Commission in Florida has unanimously voted to enact an ordinance that officially bans data centers across the county. The decision was met with support from local residents who believe communities need more time to understand the potential impacts of data centers on rural areas.
Commissioner Valerie Russell, who introduced the measure, stated that the ordinance provides the county an opportunity to gather more information on how data centers might affect the community, particularly concerning water systems and the electrical power grid. The new ordinance amends Section 2-4 of the Land Development Code and introduces Section 6-40, explicitly prohibiting data centers within all unincorporated areas of the county.
County staff noted that under the previous Land Development Code, data centers were not listed as permitted or conditional uses in any zoning district, effectively meaning they were already not allowed. Resident Matt Packett echoed the need for a pause, expressing concerns about the potential for small communities to suffer losses from large-scale data center developments. The county is also considering potential legal challenges to the ordinance, referencing recently passed state legislation like SB 484 for leverage.