Larimer County extends data center moratorium through Feb. 25, 2027

The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners voted Monday to extend the county’s temporary moratorium on data center facilities through Feb. 25, 2027. The consent-agenda action keeps in place a pause on accepting or processing applications for data center projects in unincorporated Larimer County while staff continues drafting permanent land-use rules for the use.

Under the resolution, the county will not accept applications or conduct pre-submittal work for data center facilities, including planning, building, engineering and other development applications, during the extension. The moratorium can end earlier if the county adopts definitions, standards and conditions for data centers into the Larimer County Land Use Code, and the resolution says it may also be renewed or amended again if needed.

Chair Jody Shadduck McNally identified the moratorium extension as Public Hearing Consent Item 1 and said consent-agenda items are generally considered routine unless a commissioner or member of the public asks to pull one for separate discussion. No commissioner or attendee sought to pull the item before the board moved ahead with the consent agenda.

Planning staff had recommended the extension to allow more time to research and propose regulations for what the resolution defines as data center facilities — purpose-built or substantially modified structures used primarily for computer servers, data storage, large-scale digital processing or networking equipment, along with related infrastructure such as cooling systems, backup power, telecommunications facilities and battery storage.

In a memo to commissioners, Planning Manager Jenny Axmacher said staff has been interviewing other jurisdictions, reviewing example codes, gathering input from county departments and advisory boards, and collecting public feedback through a survey. Staff told commissioners the issue is complex and said more time is needed to develop what it called a nuanced approach to regulating facilities that can have major power, water and infrastructure demands.