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.
McHenry County
Mixed Data Center Policies
Illinois offers tax breaks to data centers that meet investment, hiring, environmental, and labor conditions. Upcoming rules would tighten emissions and limit backup-generator use at certain permitted facilities; an advisory cabinet adds no requirements itself.
Rating and summary from Illinois statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for McHenry County.
Specific to McHenry County only.
pending · Unincorporated areasWould temporarily prohibit applications and permits for data centers in unincorporated McHenry County for 12 months after adoption.McHenry County Ordinance Establishing a Temporary Twelve (12)-Month Moratorium on Applications for Data Centers within Unincorporated McHenry County (PlanDev-2026-021)
What this means
If enacted, the measure would pause for 12 months applications for approvals or permits that would allow a data center in unincorporated McHenry County, making new construction and qualifying expansions substantially harder. The moratorium would last twelve months; it does not prohibit operating existing data centers.
Timing
- Ends
- 12 months from the date of adoption
The moratorium takes effect immediately upon passage and remains in force for 12 months, unless repealed, modified, or extended by formal action of the McHenry County Board.
People behind it
- McHenry County Board Planning, Environment, and Development Committee
Initiated the Unified Development Ordinance text amendment and requested consideration of the data-center moratorium.
- McHenry County Board
Proposed and enacted the ordinance establishing the temporary moratorium.
- County Clerk
Authorized to distribute a certified or electronic copy of the ordinance to the Director of Planning and Development and the County Administrator.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1
A temporary moratorium would prohibit submitting, accepting, processing, reviewing, or approving applications—including zoning map amendments, Unified Development Ordinance text amendments, conditional-use permits, use determinations, site-plan reviews, variances, and building permits—that would permit, authorize, or establish a data center in unincorporated McHenry County. The moratorium would take effect immediately upon passage and last 12 months, unless repealed, modified, or extended by the County Board.
Sources
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