Pinellas County Moves To Ban Standalone Data Centers in Unincorporated Areas
Pinellas County commissioners have instructed staff to draft a resolution clarifying that standalone data centers are not permitted in unincorporated areas, responding to public concerns. This action is being taken instead of a moratorium, as the county's development code reportedly already prohibits them as a main use. The decision follows citizen opposition and a separate moratorium enacted by the city of Pinellas Park.
Pinellas County, Florida, commissioners have directed staff to draft a resolution stating that standalone data centers are not permitted in the county's unincorporated areas. This decision stems from widespread public concern regarding the potential impacts of large data center facilities. County Attorney Jewel White advised against enacting a moratorium, explaining that the current development code already does not allow standalone data centers as a primary land use.
Commissioner Brian Scott noted a flood of citizen messages demanding a moratorium, believing a clear resolution would help restore public trust. While Pinellas County has received two inquiries about potential data centers, neither advanced to a full application. One of these inquiries targeted Pinellas Park, a municipality within the county, which independently approved a one-year moratorium on August 11 after American Tower Corporation proposed an approximately 17,000-square-foot data processing facility. Citizens in Pinellas Park had raised concerns about utility consumption and noise.
The county's proposed resolution would differentiate between massive data center operations, such as those by Google, Amazon, or Microsoft, and smaller, in-house computer infrastructure used by institutions like hospitals or law enforcement agencies. County Attorney White indicated that the development code might need refinement to ensure smaller, ancillary operations remain permitted while standalone facilities are excluded. Joe Hamilton, founder of the Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence, cautioned against long-term restrictions, arguing that AI could help resolve energy and water challenges associated with data centers. Commissioners collectively agreed to move forward with staff preparing the resolution.