Hillsborough latest locality to take up ban on data centers

Hillsborough County commissioners unanimously voted to begin the process of enacting a moratorium on the development of AI data centers in the county's unincorporated areas. The decision, made at a Wednesday meeting, stems from growing concerns about the significant impacts these facilities have on infrastructure, utilities, and land use, including strain on water resources and electrical systems, and noise pollution.

The commission directed county staff to first review existing land use regulations, exploring options to limit or prohibit the use of potable water for data center cooling. A second, concurrent directive instructed staff to draft an ordinance for a moratorium on AI data center development. Commissioner Donna Cameron Cepeda, representing District 5, initially sought a five-year moratorium but adjusted the proposal after legal counsel advised on potential conflicts with Florida's SB180, a state law that restricts local government's ability to impose development moratoriums for one year after a hurricane landfall. Due to recent hurricanes, the proposed ordinance would take effect after SB180 expires on October 1, 2027, or if it is legally challenged.

Hillsborough County joins a trend of Florida localities addressing data center proliferation; Manatee, Pasco, and Sarasota counties, along with the city of Zephyrhills, have already taken steps to impose temporary development pauses or study land use impacts. Residents voiced concerns during a public comment session about noise, environmental impacts on conserved land, and the general strain on local resources, despite there being no active data center applications currently in the county.