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.
Caroline County
This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.
Neutral Data Center Policies
Caroline County has enacted a one-year pause on data-center permits and applications in unincorporated areas, limiting new construction and expansion. It does not apply within incorporated municipalities or stop existing centers from operating.
Rating from Maryland statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Caroline County.
Specific to Caroline County only.
current law · Unincorporated areasProhibits Caroline County from accepting or approving data center applications and permits in unincorporated areas for one year, while leaving incorporated municipalities unaffected.Caroline County Commissioners’ Temporary Moratorium on Data Centers (2026)
What this means
If enacted, this would make building or expanding data centers in unincorporated Caroline County substantially harder: for one year, permits would be suspended and new and pending applications could not be processed (one-year moratorium on applications). It would not apply within incorporated municipalities or stop existing centers from operating, but the temporary pause is still a severe barrier.
Timing
- Ends
- one (1) year from and after adoption of the Resolution
The moratorium applies to data centers in unincorporated Caroline County and expires after the stated one-year period. The County Commissioners may institute or extend a moratorium at any time to protect county health, safety, and welfare.
People behind it
- County Commissioners of Caroline County, Maryland
Adopted Resolution #2026-012 establishing the temporary data-center moratorium and directing related study and regulatory work.
- J. Travis Breeding
County Commissioners President and signatory to the adopted resolution.
- Larry C. Porter
County Commissioners Vice-President and signatory to the adopted resolution.
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- N. Franklin Bartz III
County Commissioner and signatory to the adopted resolution.
- Caroline County Department of Planning and Codes
Directed to review county laws and regulations and submit a data-center report and recommendations by April 1, 2027.
- Planning Commission
Identified as a body that may consider matters related to the study, recommendations, and legislation.
- County staff
Directed to act consistently with the moratorium and identified as participants in considering related matters.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements2
A one-year moratorium, effective upon adoption on July 21, 2026, suspends the issuance of permits for the approval and construction of data centers in Caroline County’s unincorporated areas.
For the same one-year period, County agencies and related bodies may not accept, process, deliberate on, decide, or approve applications, petitions, hearing requests, or permits for data centers in the unincorporated areas. The restriction applies to both pending and future applications.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions1
Data-center applications inside incorporated municipalities are exempt from the moratorium, and County staff may provide information, input, and participate in related public hearings as though the moratorium did not apply. The moratorium does not apply within incorporated municipalities.
Sources
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