Cache County Council joins other Utah counties by placing a hold on data center approval
The Cache County Council in Utah has enacted a 180-day moratorium on approving new data centers within unincorporated properties. This pause allows the county to review and develop clear zoning codes for industrial-scale digital installations. The move is proactive, aiming to get ahead of potential future proposals, and follows similar actions in other Utah counties.
The Cache County Council has approved a 180-day moratorium on new data center applications within unincorporated areas of the county. The decision, made during a June 23 meeting, aims to allow the county's zoning and planning department to develop clear definitions and regulations for industrial-scale digital installations, which are currently lacking in existing codes. Cache County Development Services Director Brian Abbott presented the proposal, stating the pause would prevent the acceptance, review, or processing of any data center applications during this period.
Council member Sandy Goodlander clarified that the moratorium is a proactive measure, not a response to any specific data center proposals in Cache County. However, the action comes as other Utah counties, including Iron County and Box Elder County, have implemented similar pauses. The Box Elder County moratorium followed significant public criticism regarding a large-scale data center project there, which ultimately led to the defeat of Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and two Box Elder County commissioners, Boyd Bingham and Lee Perry, who had supported the project. The Cache County moratorium specifically excludes incorporated towns and cities within the county.