Loading map…

City of Carver

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

Mixed Data Center Policies

Carver’s enacted ordinance is also described as proposed; it would pause new data-center construction, expansions, and related permits for up to a year, but would not stop existing centers from operating.

Rating from Minnesota statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for City of Carver.

current law · City of Carver

Prohibits data center construction and expansion in Carver for up to one year while the city studies how to regulate them.City of Carver Ordinance No. 01-2026 (2026)

What this means

The proposed ordinance would make data centers a prohibited use for up to one year, blocking new construction, expansions, and related permit applications during that period (“no data center shall be constructed or expanded”). It does not ban operating existing centers, but the temporary, citywide development pause is a major barrier.

Timing

Ends: one year from its effective date

The ordinance may be expressly repealed earlier, and the moratorium terminates when an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance expressly regulating data centers takes effect.

People behind it

City staff
Directed to study data centers and provide recommendations to the City Council.
Consultants
Directed to participate in the study of data centers and develop recommendations.
Planning Commission
Directed to participate in the study and may make recommendations on potential zoning amendments.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements5

For the moratorium’s term, data centers are a prohibited use, and none may be constructed or expanded in the city. The definition excludes computing facilities that are merely accessory to a separate lawful principal use. (“considered a prohibited use”)
The city may not accept or approve permit applications or other applications contemplating data-center construction or expansion. (“no application for any permit”)
The city will conduct no further review or work on previously accepted applications proposing or contemplating construction or expansion. Such applications must be withdrawn, acted on under the ordinance, or—if the applicant agrees in writing—may have their statutory review period extended indefinitely, with city action deferred until after the study and any resulting zoning amendments take effect. The ordinance does not itself extend Minnesota’s statutory review timelines for applications filed before its effective date. (“no additional review or other work”)
The moratorium lasts one year from its effective date, unless repealed earlier; it ends sooner if the city adopts a zoning amendment expressly regulating data centers. (“remain in effect for one year”)
Violations may be enforced through criminal or civil proceedings. A violator may face a misdemeanor conviction, up to 90 days’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both, plus prosecution costs; each day is a separate offense. (“Each day that a violation occurs”)

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions4

The moratorium cannot halt, delay, or impede a subdivision that already received preliminary approval. Preliminary-approved subdivisions are protected, though this does not itself approve a data center.
The city cannot unilaterally extend Minnesota’s statutory review deadlines for applications filed before the ordinance takes effect. Applications filed before the effective date are covered, but this does not guarantee approval.
Computing facilities are excluded from the data-center definition when they are not the principal use of a building or facility and are merely accessory to a separate lawful principal use. Accessory computing facilities therefore are not prohibited by this moratorium.
The ordinance does not regulate matters the city is preempted from regulating under state or federal law. Preempted subject matter is outside the ordinance’s scope.

Sources

Data provided by Regbase · Cookie preferences · Report missing data