Wayne County Halts Data Center Development for 180 Days
The Wayne County Commission in Utah unanimously enacted a 180-day moratorium on all land use applications for data centers and related power plants. This action allows county officials time to update existing planning and zoning ordinances, which currently do not adequately address data center developments, to protect local land and water resources.
The Wayne County Commission in Utah has unanimously passed Resolution 2026-04, implementing an immediate 180-day moratorium on all land use applications for data centers, data center power plants, and supporting digital infrastructure. This decisive action was taken due to a recognition that current planning and zoning ordinances inadequately address large-scale industrial developments like data centers, leaving rural land and water resources vulnerable to unregulated expansion.
County officials, including legal counsel, emphasized that without updated regulations, the county would lack the means to deny such applications. The moratorium provides a critical six-month window for the county to review and draft comprehensive zoning codes. While local watchdogs praised the Commission's proactive stance, they also cautioned that the temporary pause is not a permanent solution, urging residents to stay engaged as officials work to establish robust, long-term protections against speculative industrial developers targeting rural Utah communities.