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.
Franklin County
This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.
Mixed Data Center Policies
Franklin County has an enacted measure pausing data-center planning, construction, and permit applications in unincorporated areas through December 31, 2028; it does not expressly prohibit existing operations.
Rating from Kansas statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Franklin County.
Specific to Franklin County only.
current law · Unincorporated areasProhibits planning, building, or seeking special-use permits for data centers and related activities in unincorporated Franklin County through December 31, 2028.Kansas Franklin County Resolution 26- (2026)
What this means
The measure would pause data-center planning, construction, and permit applications in unincorporated Franklin County until December 31, 2028, a major barrier lasting more than two years (moratorium through December 31, 2028). It does not expressly ban existing data-center operations, so it is a severe temporary restriction rather than an outright ban.
Timing
- Ends
- Dec 31, 2028
The moratorium applies through 2028-12-31, unless the resolution is repealed earlier or extended by the Franklin County Board of County Commissioners.
People behind it
- Franklin County Board of County Commissioners
Indicated its intent to impose the moratorium and adopted Resolution 26-27.
- Nathan Boyd
Planning Director who presented the agenda item and whose staff recommendation supported adopting the moratorium.
- Derek Brown
County Administrator who discussed the moratorium resolution at the September 2, 2026 meeting.
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- Commissioner Colton Waymire
Moved to adopt Resolution 26-27.
- Commissioner Donald Stottlemire
Seconded the motion to adopt Resolution 26-27.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements4
A temporary moratorium prohibits the planning, establishment, construction, application for, or permitting of special use permits for data centers and related activities or components in the unincorporated areas of Franklin County, Kansas, from the resolution's effective date through December 31, 2028, unless repealed earlier or extended.
During the moratorium, Franklin County officials, agencies, departments, and boards are prohibited from receiving, reviewing, processing, or approving permits, site plans, applications, or other zoning, land-use, or construction requests relating to data centers or associated activities and components.
The resolution declares the establishment of data centers and related activities or components in the unincorporated county to be a violation of the county's public interest for as long as the resolution remains in effect.
The moratorium applies broadly to facilities primarily used for data processing or storage, including buildings, groups of buildings, enclosed trailers or containers, and facilities involving servers, artificial intelligence processing, cryptocurrency or bitcoin mining, blockchain verification, cloud computing, telecommunications colocation, and similar functions.
Sources
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