Loading map…
Regbase

The Data Center Divide

Garfield Charter Township

This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.

Mixed Data Center Policies

Garfield Charter Township has enacted a temporary pause on data-center applications and permits for 12 months, extendable by up to six months, delaying new construction or expansion without expressly stopping existing facilities from operating.

Rating from Michigan statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Garfield Charter Township.

current law · Charter Township of Garfield
Would pause for 12 months the review and approval of data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities in Garfield Township while the Township considers new regulations.Garfield Charter Township Resolution 2026-26-T—Temporary Moratorium on Data Centers and Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities (2026)

What this means

The measure would pause accepting, processing, or issuing approvals for data centers for 12 months, including building permits; the moratorium could be extended by up to six more months (moratorium on applications and permits). That would substantially delay new construction or expansion, though it is temporary and does not expressly bar existing facilities from operating.

Timing

Ends
twelve (12) months from the effective date of this Resolution

The moratorium may be terminated earlier by the Township Board. It may be extended by resolution for up to an additional six (6) months if the Township Board determines that more time is necessary.

People behind it

  • Adopted findings supporting the data-center moratorium and recommended that the Township Board enact it.

  • Township legal counsel that drafted the temporary moratorium resolution.

  • Responsible for considering and adopting Resolution 2026-26-T imposing the temporary moratorium.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements3

  • A temporary moratorium bars the acceptance, review, processing, or issuance of applications, permits, rezonings, licenses, and approvals for data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities, including zoning, site-plan, special-land-use, zoning-compliance, and building permits. The covered definition includes artificial-intelligence data centers.

  • The moratorium lasts 12 months from the resolution's effective date, unless the Township Board terminates it earlier.

  • The Township Board may extend the moratorium by resolution for up to an additional six months if it determines that more time is needed to review or amend the Master Plan or Zoning Ordinance.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions4

  • Qualified data centers may claim a Michigan sales and use tax exemption for eligible data-center equipment through December 31, 2035, provided the facility meets the statutory definition and applicable statewide job-creation requirements.

  • Enterprise data centers may qualify for a Michigan sales and use tax exemption on eligible equipment through 2050, or through 2065 if built on brownfield property, subject to Michigan Strategic Fund certification and requirements including at least $250 million in equipment investment, specified job creation, clean-energy use, green-building certification, and use of a municipal water source.

  • The current Garfield Township Zoning Ordinance allows data centers and computer operations by right in the I-G General Industrial and I-L Limited Industrial districts, subject to administrative site-plan review rather than special-use approval.

  • Michigan zoning law limits local governments from totally prohibiting a land use and requires zoning standards and conditions to be reasonable and fact-based, providing protection against a complete local ban on data centers.

Sources

Data provided by Regbase · Cookie preferences · Report missing data