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.
City of Nicholasville
This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.
Pro-Data Center Policies
Nicholasville has enacted a temporary pause on data-center applications, zoning changes, permits, and related requests, restricting new construction and expansion. Sources disagree whether the pause lasts six months or one year.
Rating from Kentucky statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for City of Nicholasville.
current law · City of NicholasvillePauses data-center-related applications, permits, zoning changes, site plans, business registrations, and other location requests in Nicholasville for six months.Nicholasville Data Center Moratorium Ordinance (2026)
What this means
The measure would temporarily pause data-center-related applications, zoning changes, permits, site plans, and other requests in Nicholasville, making new construction or expansion substantially harder during the pause. The sources differ on whether it lasts six months or one year, but either duration is a serious restriction. [The meeting minutes describe a six-month moratorium](https://nicholasvilleky.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=5199,plainText=false#:~:text=SIX%20MONTH%20MORATORIUM), while the agenda describes a one-year moratorium.
Timing
- Ends
- six months after adoption
The adopted Municipal Order 2026-017 establishes a six-month moratorium. The meeting agenda described a one-year moratorium, but the minutes record approval of the six-month version.
People behind it
- Commissioner Sutherland
Moved or seconded motions approving Ordinance 225-2026, Ordinance 232-2026, the Imperial Plaza Storm Drain change order, and a 2023 net profit tax refund.
- Commissioner Knight
Moved or seconded motions approving Ordinances 225-2026, 226-2026, 231-2026, the Imperial Plaza Storm Drain change order, employee pay updates, temporary police officer hires, a Planning and Zoning promotion, and police officer recruit hires.
- Commissioner Brown
Moved or seconded motions approving Ordinances 226-2026, 232-2026, 233-2026, the Letter of Credit release, Municipal Order 2026-017, employee pay updates, personnel actions, a 2025 net profit tax refund, and related financial matters.
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- Commissioner Teater
Moved or seconded motions approving Ordinance 231-2026, Ordinance 233-2026, the Letter of Credit release, Municipal Order 2026-017, employee pay updates, and a 2023 net profit tax refund.
- Mayor Alex Carter
The authorized signatory for Municipal Order 2026-017 concerning the moratorium on data center-related applications, amendments, permits, registrations, and requests.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1
A six-month moratorium was authorized on data-center applications, zoning amendments or permits, conditional-use permits, building permits, site plans, business registrations, and any other requests related to locating data centers in Nicholasville.
Sources
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