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.
Frontier County
Anti-Data Center Policies
Frontier County allows data centers as secondary uses in some districts; stand-alone facilities must meet crypto-mining siting and noise requirements, potentially adding cost and delay without prohibiting development.
current law · Unincorporated areas, excluding the one-mile planning jurisdictions of Curtis, Maywood, and Eustis and the portion of Farnam’s extraterritorial jurisdiction within the countySets separation, noise, and mitigation requirements for new crypto-mining, blockchain, and standalone data-center operations.Frontier County Zoning Regulations, Article 16 — Crypto Mining and Data Centers
What this means
The rules allow data centers ancillary to other permitted uses in some districts, but a new stand-alone data center must meet the same conditions as crypto-mining operations, including a one-mile separation from specified uses, a noise study, sound limits, and noise barriers (standards for new data centers). These siting and approval requirements could add meaningful cost and delay, though they do not prohibit development.
People behind it
- Frontier County Board of Commissioners
May initiate zoning amendments and adopts or acts on zoning measures. Amendment proposals may be initiated by the County Board.
- Frontier County Planning Commission
May initiate amendments and makes recommendations on zoning proposals. Submitted to the Planning Commission for recommendation and report.
- Darla M Walther
Identified by the county as Zoning Administrator; the regulations assign the Zoning Administrator enforcement and administrative duties. Zoning Administrator and enforced and administered by a zoning administrator.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements5
AG-R, HC, and Industrial districts list data centers as accessory uses only when ancillary to another permitted primary use. New non-ancillary data centers may be permitted under Article 16.2, subject to the standards in Article 16.1. Ancillary data centers
A new non-ancillary data center is subject to a one-mile separation from existing dwellings, platted residential areas, public parks or recreation areas, churches, cemeteries, religious areas, schools, and historical sites. If it is proposed closer, the owner must obtain an impact easement from each existing use or dwelling within the required separation distance. One-mile separation
A new non-ancillary data center must complete a noise study before the public hearing for its Conditional Use Permit. Noise study before a public hearing
Noise from a new non-ancillary data center is limited to 55 dBA over a one-hour period, measured at the boundary of adjacent residential properties using a Type II-or-better sound meter; noise-reduction barriers are also required. Maximum one-hour limit of 55 dba
Zoning permits are required for buildings and land uses, including agricultural and non-agricultural uses; a permit application must include a plot plan and other required site information. Zoning permits are required for all buildings
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions2
Ancillary data centers are listed as permitted uses in AG-R and HC, and as a permitted principal use when ancillary to another permitted primary use in the Industrial district. Zoning permits are generally required for buildings and land uses. Ancillary data centers Zoning permits are required
A new data center that is not ancillary to another primary use may be permitted under the standards in Section 16.1(1)–(5). These include a one-mile separation from specified sensitive uses, a noise study before the permit hearing, a 55 dBA one-hour noise limit, noise barriers, and an impact-easement requirement for closer siting. A new data center
Sources
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