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.
Volusia County
Strongly Anti-Data Center Policies
Volusia County prohibits construction, expansion, and operation of data centers rated 50 MW or more in unincorporated areas. The description calls the ban conditional, but the ordinance is labeled enacted.
current law · Unincorporated areasWould prohibit data centers with peak electricity demand of 50 megawatts or more in unincorporated Volusia County, pending final approval.Volusia County Ordinance 2026-22, Prohibition of Large-Scale Data Centers
What this means
If enacted, it would prohibit large-scale data centers of 50 MW or more in unincorporated Volusia County, including their construction, expansion, and operation. The ban is limited to that area and size category, but it is a complete ban within its scope.
People behind it
- Volusia County Council
Directed staff to draft the ordinance and considered its first reading.
- Troy Kent
Moved approval of the first reading of Ordinance 2026-22.
- Don Dempsey
Seconded the motion to approve the first reading.
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- Michael G. Dyer
County Attorney and listed staff contact who provided the legal analysis and assisted in preparing the ordinance.
- Ray F. Tyner
Growth and Resource Management official who participated in drafting the ordinance and provided department review.
- Christopher Ryan
Collaborating attorney identified as one of the principal contributors to preparing the ordinance.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements2
Large-scale data centers are prohibited uses in unincorporated Volusia County. The threshold is a single location with an on-site data center having an anticipated monthly peak electrical load of 50 megawatts or more, calculated as the highest average load over a 15-minute interval.
The County may not accept, process, review, approve, or issue applications or approvals for establishing, constructing, expanding, intensifying, or operating a qualifying large-scale data center, including comprehensive-plan amendments, rezonings, special exceptions, conditional uses, variances, site plans, development permits, building permits, construction-plan approvals, concurrency certificates, capacity reservations, and similar County approvals.
Sources
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