DeKalb County's proposed data center regulations explained

DeKalb County is working to regulate data centers, with a proposed ordinance restricting facilities to industrial areas and requiring special permits. The county extended a moratorium on new data center applications until June 2026. PCC-DeKalb is seeking a special permit for a 2 million square-foot data center campus in Ellenwood, but county staff recommended denial. Residents are concerned about noise, pollution, and equity, urging the commission to ban data center campuses. Commissioners acknowledge the need for regulations to protect constituents, but some residents feel the proposed ordinance is insufficient.