The Data Center Divide
A policy snapshot ahead of the 2026 midterms. Mapping data center incentives, restrictions, and bans through legislation, regulations, and executive actions across all 50 states and 1,462 local jurisdictions.
Montrose County
This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.
Pro-Data Center Policies
Montrose County’s enacted measure temporarily bars acceptance or processing of new data center applications for up to six months, delaying projects needing approval but not directly stopping existing facilities from operating.
Rating from Colorado statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Montrose County.
Specific to Montrose County only.
current law · Unincorporated territoryTemporarily prohibits Montrose County from accepting or processing data center applications for up to six months, or until it considers data center-specific zoning rules, whichever comes first.Montrose County Resolution 23-2026
What this means
The measure would stop the county from accepting or processing new data center applications for up to six months, delaying new construction and expansions that need approval (“No applications … shall be accepted or processed”). It does not directly prohibit existing data centers from operating, but the temporary moratorium is a major development barrier.
Timing
- Ends
- six months from the effective date of the resolution or until appropriate definitions, standards, and conditions are adopted into the Zoning Regulations, whichever comes first
The Board reserves the right to extend the moratorium if additional time is needed and may renew or amend it by separate action.
People behind it
- Montrose County Board of County Commissioners
Adopted and enacted Resolution 23-2026, establishing the six-month moratorium.
- Montrose County Planning and Development Department
Responsible for not accepting or processing data center facility applications during the moratorium.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements2
The County will not accept or process applications for data center facilities for six months from July 1, 2026, or until the Board adopts appropriate definitions, standards, and conditions, whichever comes first. The moratorium may be renewed or amended by separate action. (https://www.montrosecounty.net/DocumentCenter/View/26287/Resolution-23-2026#:~:text=No%20applications%20for%20data%20center%20facilities%20shall%20be%20accepted%20or%20processed)
The moratorium applies broadly to purpose-built facilities, substantial modifications to existing structures, and integrated groups of structures primarily used for servers, data storage, digital processing, or networking, including associated cooling, backup power, telecommunications, and battery-storage infrastructure. (https://www.montrosecounty.net/DocumentCenter/View/26287/Resolution-23-2026#:~:text=For%20purposes%20of%20this%20moratorium%2C%20a%20%22data%20center%20facility%22%20means)
Sources
Data provided by Regbase · Cookie preferences · Report missing data