Imperial County data center moratorium struck down by court
The Imperial County Superior Court struck down a temporary moratorium on data center approvals in unincorporated areas of Imperial County, citing insufficient findings to meet state law requirements. County officials are evaluating their legal options but affirmed their commitment to developing future regulations with community input. The Board of Supervisors had previously extended the initial 45-day moratorium.
The Imperial County Superior Court recently overturned a temporary moratorium on data center approvals in the unincorporated areas of Imperial County. The court ruled that the county's justification for the moratorium did not adequately meet state legal requirements, directing that the halt on approvals be set aside.
The Imperial County Board of Supervisors had initially imposed a 45-day moratorium in June to assess issues related to large-scale data center development. Following this, a Data Center Advisory Committee was established to gather community feedback and prepare recommendations for prospective regulations. The moratorium was subsequently extended by an additional 10 months and 15 days after a public hearing in July.
Despite the court's decision, Imperial County officials stated their respect for the ruling and are currently exploring their next legal steps. They emphasized that their broader initiative to evaluate data center development and establish appropriate policies, in collaboration with residents, stakeholders, and the Data Center Advisory Committee, will continue.