The Box Elder County Commission is set to vote on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, on a proposed ordinance that would implement a temporary 180-day moratorium on new development applications for data centers and data center power plants. If passed, the regulation would immediately suspend the acceptance and processing of applications within the county's unincorporated regions.
Purpose of proposed pause
This proposed pause is intended to provide a six-month period for the county to research and implement land-use regulations specifically designed to address the infrastructure requirements and impacts associated with these technology projects.
Reason for new regulations
The need for this temporary regulation follows recent developments involving the Stratos Project, a proposed hyperscale data center campus involving the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) and O’Leary Digital. County officials noted that the current Land Use Management & Development Code lacks specific categories or standards to adequately regulate data centers and their associated power infrastructure.
Scope of the moratorium
If enacted, the county will not accept new zone changes, land use applications, building permits, or business licenses for data centers, power plants, or supporting digital infrastructure in unincorporated Box Elder County for the 180-day duration. Officials plan to use this period to determine if future developments should be permitted and to explore potential new zoning classifications or overlay districts.
Goals for future standards
The goal of the proposed standards is to ensure future projects align with the County's General Plan, protect local resources, mitigate noise, and preserve the community's rural character.
Exemption for Stratos Project
The Stratos Project itself remains exempt from this proposed moratorium. Under state law, MIDA projects do not follow standard local land use approval processes. On May 4, 2026, the County Commission passed Resolution 26-11, which transferred exclusive land-use jurisdiction to MIDA for the next 50 years, meaning county zoning and land use ordinances do not apply to that project area.
Timeline for ordinance adoption
Following the vote on June 10, if Ordinance 654 is adopted, the moratorium will begin immediately. The county must adopt a new ordinance outlining changes to the land use code within 180 days, or the moratorium will be automatically lifted under Utah law.
