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.
DeSoto County
This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.
Mixed Data Center Policies
DeSoto County’s enacted measure pauses most new data center applications in unincorporated areas for one year, with exceptions for one approved project and two pending rezoning applications; existing operations are not described as restricted.
Rating from Florida statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for DeSoto County.
Specific to DeSoto County only.
current law · Unincorporated areasPauses for one year the review and approval of data center development applications in unincorporated DeSoto County, with exceptions for one approved project and two pending rezoning applications.DeSoto County Ordinance / Data Center Moratorium (2026)
What this means
The measure would pause acceptance, review, and approval of most new data center development applications in unincorporated DeSoto County for one year, making new construction and expansion substantially harder during that period (one-year moratorium). It exempts one previously approved project and two pending rezoning applications, but those exceptions do not remove the broad delay for other projects; the source does not describe restrictions on operating existing data centers.
Timing
- Ends
- one (1) year after the ordinance's effective date
The ordinance establishes a temporary one-year moratorium on data-center-facility development applications in unincorporated DeSoto County. The previously approved data center PUD and two pending rezoning applications are exempt and continue under existing County procedures.
People behind it
- System Administrator
Identified as the sponsor of the Data Center Moratorium measure.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements2
Establishes a temporary one-year moratorium in unincorporated DeSoto County on accepting, processing, reviewing, and approving development applications for data center facilities.
Exempts the previously approved data center PUD (RZNE-0077-2025) and the two pending rezoning applications (RZNE-0086-2026 and RZNE-0087-2026), allowing them to continue under existing County procedures.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions2
The previously approved data center planned unit development, RZNE-0077-2025, is exempt from the moratorium and may proceed under existing County procedures.
The two pending data center rezoning applications, RZNE-0086-2026 and RZNE-0087-2026, are identified as exempt from the moratorium and may continue under existing County procedures.
Sources
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