Loading map…
Regbase

The Data Center Divide

Winnebago County

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

Pro-Data Center Policies

Winnebago County has enacted a 12-month pause on applications for new data centers, making new facilities harder to build; existing facilities and routine upgrades are exempt.

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

Specific to Winnebago County only.

current law · County measure: Towns of Algoma, Omro, Neenah, and Nekimi
Temporarily prohibits Winnebago County from accepting, processing, or approving zoning applications for new data centers of at least 10,000 square feet for up to 12 months.Winnebago County Ordinance 57-08 (2026)

What this means

If enacted, the 12-month pause on new data-center applications would make building new facilities substantially harder. Existing facilities and routine upgrades are exempt, so the measure does not stop ordinary operations or those upgrades (moratorium and exceptions).

Timing

Ends
Twelve (12) months from the date of publication or until it is rescinded, whichever is earlier.

The sources do not provide the ordinance's publication date, so no explicit calendar expiration date can be determined.

People behind it

  • Applicant proposing the text amendment and moratorium.

  • Agent for the Winnebago County Planning and Zoning Department in the text-amendment application.

  • Submitted the ordinance to the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors.

Show 2 more peopleShow fewer people

  • Enacting body that adopted the moratorium and related zoning-definition amendment.

  • Responsible during the moratorium for reviewing ordinances, evaluating impacts, consulting stakeholders, and preparing recommendations and proposed amendments.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements2

  • For 12 months from adoption and publication, or until rescinded earlier, Winnebago County may not receive, process, or approve new data center development applications.

  • The moratorium applies to facilities with at least 10,000 square feet of floor space designed for high-volume data management, processing, networking, storage, transmission, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, or similar technology functions.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions4

  • Existing lawfully established data centers are exempt from the moratorium and may continue operating.

  • Routine maintenance, repairs, replacements, and upgrades to existing data center facilities are exempt from the moratorium.

  • Projects that received all required County approvals before the ordinance took effect are exempt and may proceed.

  • Telecommunications facilities otherwise regulated under state or federal law are exempt from the moratorium.

Sources

Data provided by Regbase · Cookie preferences · Report missing data