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The Data Center Divide

Skagit County

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

Mixed Data Center Policies

Skagit County has enacted a six-month pause on new data center permit applications in rural, unincorporated areas, with possible six-month renewals. Already-vested applications are exempt, and the pause does not apply within cities or towns.

Rating from Washington statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Skagit County.

Specific to Skagit County only.

current law · Unincorporated areas outside incorporated cities and towns
Imposes an immediate six-month moratorium, adopted June 1, 2026, on accepting applications for data centers in unincorporated Skagit County, covering facilities exceeding 2,000 square feet or with a planned electrical load of at least two megawatts; applications vested before the effective date are excluded.Skagit County Ordinance No. O20260005 (2026)

What this means

The measure would stop the county from accepting new data center permit applications for six months, with possible six-month renewals, creating a major delay for development (six months). It applies only to rural, unincorporated Skagit County and exempts applications that were already vested, so it is not a countywide, permanent ban (outside incorporated cities and towns).

Timing

Ends
six (6) months after adoption

The moratorium was adopted on 2026-06-01 and is stated to expire in December 2026. It may be renewed for one or more additional six-month periods if a subsequent public hearing is held and findings of fact are made before each renewal.

People behind it

  • Adopted the interim ordinance and imposed the six-month moratorium on accepting data-center permit applications.

  • Chair of the Skagit County Board of County Commissioners and signatory to the ordinance adopting the moratorium.

  • Skagit County Commissioner and signatory to the ordinance adopting the moratorium.

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  • Skagit County Commissioner and signatory to the ordinance adopting the moratorium.

  • Directed by the ordinance to develop and propose amendments to Title 14 regulating data centers.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements8

  • A moratorium immediately prohibits Skagit County from accepting permit applications for data centers.

  • The moratorium applies to data centers defined as facilities exceeding 2,000 square feet or having a total planned electrical load of at least 2 megawatts.

  • The moratorium lasts six months, expiring in December 2026, unless renewed.

  • The moratorium may be renewed for additional six-month periods only after a public hearing and new findings of fact before each renewal.

  • The moratorium does not apply to applications that vested before the ordinance took effect under Skagit County Code 4.06.190.

  • The moratorium applies only in rural, unincorporated Skagit County and does not apply within incorporated cities and towns.

  • Skagit County Code Title 14 does not currently permit data centers as defined by the ordinance, creating a barrier to permitting them until regulations are adopted.

  • The County must hold a public hearing on the moratorium, with the scheduled hearing on July 14, 2026, and accept written comments through 4:30 p.m. that day.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions4

  • The moratorium does not apply to permit applications that were already vested before June 1, 2026, preserving those projects under the prior rules. shall not apply to any applications vested before the effective date

  • The moratorium covers only facilities meeting the data-center definition—larger than 2,000 square feet or having a total anticipated electrical load of at least 2 megawatts—so smaller, lower-load facilities are outside its scope. larger than 2,000 square feet or have a total anticipated load of two megawatts or greater

  • The moratorium applies only to rural Skagit County outside incorporated cities and towns, leaving projects within incorporated municipalities outside this county moratorium. only applies to rural Skagit County, outside incorporated cities and towns

  • The moratorium lasts six months, and any extension requires another public hearing and findings of fact, limiting the duration of the application freeze unless the county follows that renewal process. effective for six (6) months and a subsequent public hearing

Sources

Specific to Skagit County only.

pending · Unincorporated areas
Proposes adding SCC 14.18.810 to define data centers and limit each facility to 2,000 square feet and no more than 2 megawatts of electrical load, with the stated aim of restricting them to small-scale operations such as typical business server rooms (proposed size and load limits).Skagit County 2026 Docket of Proposed Policy, Code, and Map Amendments — C24-4 Data Center Amendments (2026)

What this means

The proposal would allow data centers in Bayview Ridge’s light- and heavy-industrial zones and as server rooms for permitted businesses. But it caps them at 2,000 square feet and 2 megawatts, a significant limit on building or expanding larger data centers.

People behind it

  • Applicant proposing the Small Scale Business rezone petition for 0.3 acres at 23528 Old Day Creek Road.

  • Applicant proposing, together with Kevin Rasar, the Mineral Resource Overlay designation request for five parcels.

  • Applicant proposing, together with Miles Sand and Gravel, the Mineral Resource Overlay designation request for five parcels.

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  • Lead agency administering the 2026 docket and proposer of the staff-initiated General Code Language Clean Up petition.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements3

  • Data centers are limited to a maximum of 2,000 square feet and an electrical load of no more than 2 megawatts.

  • A data center may be used as an accessory use only when it serves as a server room for a permitted business.

  • Data centers are allowed as permitted uses only in the Bayview Ridge–Light Industrial and Bayview Ridge–Heavy Industrial zones.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions2

  • Allows data centers of up to 2,000 square feet with an electrical load of no more than 2 megawatts as accessory uses when they serve as a server room for a permitted business. This provides a specific permitting pathway for small-scale data center operations.

  • Allows data centers meeting the definition and limits in proposed SCC 14.18.810 as permitted uses in the Bayview Ridge-Light Industrial and Bayview Ridge-Heavy Industrial zones.

Sources

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