A temporary moratorium prohibits the acceptance, review, processing, or approval of applications, permits, or requests for establishing, expanding, or constructing data centers in Meade County, including zoning permits, conditional use permits, site plans, and building permits. It applies to server farms, cloud computing facilities, and colocation data centers, but excludes small-scale computer rooms and IT equipment accessory to a principal business use. The moratorium lasts 12 months from the ordinance’s effective date unless the Fiscal Court ends or extends it earlier.

A temporary moratorium bars the acceptance, review, processing, or approval of applications, permits, or requests for establishing, expanding, or constructing data centers in Meade County. It lasts 12 months from the ordinance’s effective date unless terminated earlier or extended by the Fiscal Court. The moratorium covers server farms, cloud-computing facilities, and colocation data centers, but excludes small-scale computer rooms and IT equipment accessory to a principal business use.

IT Infrastructure Facilities are permitted by right only in the Light Industrial (LI) zoning district.

An IT Infrastructure Facility must be located on a parcel of at least 25 acres.

The facility must maintain setbacks of 200 feet from residential or agricultural zones, 100 feet from business or conservancy zones, and 50 feet from industrial zones.

Although there is no stated maximum building height, proposed height must be approved based on compatibility with natural topography, protection of scenic vistas, preservation of the natural horizon, and screening or architectural treatments that reduce visual intrusion. Facilities over 50 feet require enhanced façade treatments and increased landscaping subject to case-by-case Planning Commission review.

Facilities must provide a permanent landscape buffer of at least 60 feet along property boundaries adjacent to residential, agricultural, business, or conservancy zones. The required tree or dense-vegetation planting may be reduced or omitted along a shared agricultural boundary only with the adjoining owner’s written agreement and suitable alternative screening.

Required screening may include double rows of evergreen and deciduous trees, earthen berms, living walls, or a solid wall or fence at least six feet high along front, rear, and side yards next to residential or agricultural districts, with evergreen plantings where a wall or fence is used. Buffer plantings must use at least four different thickly foliaged tree species, generally at least six feet tall at planting.

Building façades visible from public roads or residential or agricultural areas must include visual variation using at least two specified techniques, such as changes in materials, colors, or textures; façade step-backs or projections; or architectural features such as faux windows, trellises, or vertical green walls.

All operations must occur inside a completely enclosed building, and cooling, ventilation, generators, emergency power equipment, and other operating equipment must also be contained within the building.

Noise may not exceed 55 dB at property lines adjacent to residential, agricultural, or business districts, or 70 dB at property lines adjacent to industrial districts. A pre-construction noise study and a post-construction noise verification study are required, although the Planning Commission may adjust the limits based on topographic conditions.

Applicants must disclose anticipated water use for cooling and demonstrate coordination with the Meade County Water District when necessary. Facilities using evaporative cooling must include water-conservation measures.

Applicants must submit a decommissioning plan addressing removal of structures, restoration of landscaping, and site stabilization. The County may require a financial surety, such as a bond, escrow, or letter of credit, to guarantee decommissioning.

Cargo containers, railroad cars, semi-truck trailers, and similar storage containers may not be used at an IT Infrastructure Facility.

Exterior lighting must comply with the ordinance’s outdoor-signage requirements, subject to an exception for properties within designated one-mile or five-mile buffer zones that participate in the Fort Knox agreement, whose lighting regulations supersede these requirements.

Building, electrical, and HVAC permits are required before commencing applicable construction, placement, alteration, excavation, or installation work. A facility also may not be used until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued, and the Certificate must be withheld until the ordinance’s requirements are satisfied and required private utilities are available.

Commercial and industrial development plans covering construction, parking, yards, driveways, entrances, exits, and screening must be approved by the Meade County Planning Commission, which may require changes to address safety, traffic, and protection of adjacent properties.

A building permit becomes void six months after issuance unless substantial progress has been made, and a permit application must include plans and other information required to determine compliance. Fees are required, and commencing commercial construction without a required permit triggers an additional fee equal to the original fee, with a minimum of $500.

IT Infrastructure Facilities are permitted by right in the Light Industrial (LI) zoning district, rather than requiring a conditional-use permit. This applies only when the facility complies with Section 4.3.11. permitted by right only in the Light Industrial (LI) zoning district

IT Infrastructure Facilities have no maximum building-footprint restriction, allowing facilities of any building size. Larger facilities may still receive additional screening or architectural requirements during development-plan review. no maximum building size restriction applies

IT Infrastructure Facilities have no maximum building-height limit. Proposed height must still be reviewed for compatibility with topography, scenic vistas, the natural horizon, and visual screening or architectural treatments. There shall be no maximum building height

Accessory buildings are allowed for IT Infrastructure Facilities, subject to the applicable noise limits. Accessory buildings are permitted

The required landscaping or tree planting along a boundary next to agricultural property may be reduced or omitted if the adjoining agricultural owner agrees in writing. Alternative screening, such as fencing or natural vegetation, may be used instead. may be reduced or omitted along shared boundaries upon written agreement

Existing healthy trees and natural topography may substitute for some or all new buffering when the Planning Commission finds they provide equivalent screening density, depth, and height. Existing healthy trees and natural topography must be incorporated

The Planning Commission may create an overlay allowing IT Infrastructure Facilities in additional zoning districts, add enhanced standards, or provide case-by-case flexibility based on site conditions. This is discretionary and does not automatically authorize facilities outside LI. allow IT Infrastructure Facilities in additional districts

For a conforming project, the administrative official must grant or deny a building permit within 14 calendar days after submission. grant or deny the permit within fourteen (14) calendar days

The ordinance allows facilities to coordinate anticipated cooling-water use with the Meade County Water District, providing a defined mechanism for addressing water-supply needs. Facilities using evaporative cooling must also include water-conservation measures. disclose anticipated water usage for cooling

Properties within the designated one-mile or five-mile buffer zone may elect to participate in the Fort Knox agreement, whose regulations supersede the ordinance's lighting requirements. may opt to participate in the Fort Knox agreement