Levy adopts one-year pause on data center applications
Levy County commissioners unanimously adopted a one-year moratorium stopping data center applications in unincorporated areas. The pause will allow county officials to study potential impacts on water, electricity, noise, natural resources and property values while developing possible regulations.
Levy County commissioners unanimously approved Ordinance 2026-05 on Oct. 6, imposing a 12-month moratorium on accepting, reviewing, processing or approving data center applications in the county’s unincorporated areas. No data center applications or proposed projects are currently pending.
The moratorium gives county staff time to study data center impacts and recommend zoning, permitting, infrastructure and environmental safeguards. Residents raised concerns about water use, electricity demand, noise and property values, while county officials said the measure would preserve local control as Florida considers statewide requirements and a study of data center impacts. The ordinance takes effect after filing with the Florida Department of State and may end sooner if regulations are adopted or the county repeals it.