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 St. Joseph
This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.
Pro-Data Center Policies
St. Joseph’s enacted 18-month moratorium bars applications to build or expand data centers, while allowing lawful existing centers to operate and exempting small accessory server rooms and wireless facilities.
Rating from Wisconsin statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Town of St. Joseph.
current law · Town of St. JosephProposes an 18-month moratorium on the establishment, siting, construction, and expansion of data centers in the Town of St.Town of St. Joseph Ordinance 2026-05 — Data Center Moratorium (2026)
What this means
The 18-month moratorium would prevent the Town from accepting or approving applications to build or expand data centers, making new development substantially harder during that period (no application ... shall be accepted, processed, or approved). It would not stop lawful existing centers from operating, and small accessory server rooms and wireless facilities are exempt, but the temporary building and expansion freeze is still a severe restriction (does not affect any Data Center ... lawfully established and existing).
Timing
- Ends
- 18 months from its effective date
The moratorium automatically expires at the end of that period unless earlier repealed, extended, or modified by the Town Board in accordance with law. The effective date is upon passage and publication or posting as required by law, so the sources do not establish a calendar expiration date. The eighteen-month term and early-termination provision
People behind it
- Town Board of the Town of St. Joseph
The ordinance states that the Town Board ordained and adopted the moratorium.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1
For 18 months from its effective date, the Town may not accept, process, or approve applications, or issue permits or other Town approvals, for establishing, siting, constructing, or expanding a data center. This covers new construction and installation, enlargement or physical or operational expansion, and converting an existing building to a data center. The moratorium does not affect a lawfully existing data center or an application that the law requires to be decided under rules in effect when it was submitted. It also exempts an accessory server room on the same lot if it is no larger than the lesser of 2,000 square feet or 25% of the principal structure’s floor area, and wireless communication facilities. The moratorium automatically expires after 18 months unless the Town Board earlier repeals, extends, or modifies it; it takes effect upon passage and required publication or posting.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions4
A data center lawfully established and operating when the ordinance takes effect is not affected by the moratorium. The ordinance does not affect any Data Center
A pending application is not affected if, as of the ordinance’s effective date, the law requires it to be decided under the rules in effect when it was submitted. Applications required by law to be decided
An accessory server room is exempt if it supports a lawful principal use on the same lot and is no larger than the lesser of 2,000 square feet or 25% of the principal structure’s gross floor area. Server Rooms
The moratorium automatically expires after 18 months unless the Town Board extends, modifies, or repeals it sooner; after expiration, this ordinance no longer bars data-center applications. automatically expire
Sources
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