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.
Town of Winfield
This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.
Pro-Data Center Policies
Winfield’s enacted law pauses acceptance and review of applications for qualifying data centers for 12 months, with the Town Board able to extend the pause by up to another year. It does not prohibit existing centers from operating.
Rating from New York statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Town of Winfield.
current law · Town of WinfieldProposes a twelve-month moratorium on data storage facilities or data centers in the Town of Winfield, with a public hearing scheduled for August 11, 2026, to obtain public comment before action on the proposal.Town of Winfield Local Law No. 2 of 2026 (Temporary Moratorium on Data Centers)
What this means
The proposed law would stop the Town from accepting or reviewing applications for qualifying data centers for 12 months, and the Town Board could extend the pause by up to another 12 months (12-month moratorium and possible extensions). That is a major barrier to building or expanding during the moratorium, though the text does not prohibit existing centers from operating.
Timing
- Ends
- Twelve months from the effective date, which is upon filing with the New York State Secretary of State
The Town Board may extend the moratorium by up to two additional periods of up to six months each, by resolution upon finding the extension necessary.
People behind it
- Winfield Town Board
The law identifies the Town Board as seeking to draft, propose, and pass data-center legislation, and as enacting the moratorium: draft, propose and pass legislation.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements5
For 12 months from the law’s effective date, the Town will not accept or consider applications for facilities with a peak demand of 500 kilowatts or more used exclusively or primarily for computing infrastructure (excluding manufacturing), data processing, web hosting, streaming support, or related services. The moratorium’s scope and threshold
The Town Board may extend the moratorium for two additional periods of up to six months each, by resolution and upon finding the extension necessary. Extension terms
An applicant seeking a variance must submit a written request to the Town Clerk and pay a $250 processing fee. The Town Board may grant relief after a public hearing only if strict application would cause practical difficulties or extraordinary hardship and the variance would not adversely affect public health, safety, or welfare or significantly conflict with the law’s purpose. Variance criteria and fee
Variance applications require a public hearing with at least five days’ public notice, and the Town Board must decide within 30 days after the hearing closes. Hearing and decision deadlines
During the law’s effective period, the Zoning Board of Appeals’ authority to grant relief from the law is suspended and temporarily superseded. Zoning Board authority
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions1
The Town Board may grant a variance from the moratorium after a public hearing if strict application would cause practical difficulties or extraordinary hardships, and the relief would not harm public health, safety, or welfare or significantly conflict with the law’s purpose. The applicant must submit a written request and pay a $250 fee; the hearing requires at least five days’ public notice, and the Board must decide within 30 days after the hearing closes. During the moratorium, the Town Board—not the Zoning Board of Appeals—handles requests for relief (variance procedure and limits).
Sources
Data provided by Regbase · Cookie preferences · Report missing data