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The Data Center Divide

Tazewell County

Anti-Data Center Policies

Tazewell County has enacted a measure that can block or delay data-center proposals not specifically allowed by its zoning code; it is described as temporary, but has no deadline.

current law · Unincorporated areas
Prohibits data centers in unincorporated Tazewell County unless the zoning code or a supplemental ordinance explicitly allows them.Tazewell County Zoning Code Amendment: Unlisted Uses Prohibited (2026)

People behind it

  • Proposed language changes to LU-26-04; voted against the original resolution.

  • Moved approval of the original resolution.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1

  • Any land use not explicitly allowed by the code or a supplemental ordinance is prohibited. Legislative discussion expressly identifies BESS facilities and data centers as the intensive uses motivating the interim restriction.

Sources

current law · County measure: County jurisdiction; the sources do not expressly clarify whether the proposed data-center provisions would apply only to unincorporated areas
Temporarily bars data center proposals that are not specifically listed in the county zoning code while the county develops data center regulations.Tazewell County Resolution Temporarily Rejecting Data Center Petitions (2026)

What this means

The amendment would stop petitions for uses not specifically listed in the zoning code, which could block or delay data-center proposals while the county develops rules. The minutes describe this as not meant to be permanent, but set no deadline, so it creates a significant barrier without imposing a permanent ban.

People behind it

  • Tazewell County Community Development Administrator who presented proposed Amendment 75, stated that the amendment was intended to allow time to draft related ordinances, and was drafting the renewable energy ordinance.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1

  • Amendment 75 stops petitions for any use not specifically listed in the zoning code. Because the committee described the amendment as allowing time to draft standards for uses such as data centers, an unlisted data center would be barred from pursuing a zoning petition until the County adopts applicable standards; the restriction was described as temporary and potentially rescindable.

Sources

Specific to Tazewell County only.

pending · Unincorporated areas
Would temporarily prohibit the county from accepting or approving permits for new data centers in unincorporated areas for nine months, through July 28, 2027, unless the moratorium is ended sooner.Tazewell County Proposed Amendment 78 (2026)

What this means

The proposal would pause approvals for nine months for establishing, constructing, expanding, or converting property for a new data center in unincorporated Tazewell County, creating a substantial delay for projects there. It does not explicitly restrict the operation of existing data centers, but the nine-month moratorium fits the severe temporary-restriction range.

Timing

Ends
2027-07-28 23:59

The temporary nine-month moratorium applies to new data centers in unincorporated Tazewell County and remains in effect until July 28, 2027, at 11:59 p.m., unless repealed or modified earlier by the County Board.

People behind it

  • Requested and referred Proposed Amendment 78 for consideration and a public hearing.

  • Requested that language be drafted for the proposed data center moratorium amendment.

  • Community Development Administrator who drafted or presented the amendment language and was designated to chair the task force developing the data center ordinance.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1

  • Establishes a temporary nine-month moratorium on accepting, processing, considering, approving, or issuing any zoning, special-use, building, or other development approval for establishing, constructing, expanding, or converting property for use as a new data center as a principal use in unincorporated Tazewell County. The moratorium runs from the amendment’s effective date until July 28, 2027, at 11:59 p.m., unless the County Board repeals or modifies it earlier.

Sources

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