Larimer County draft rules would cap data centers at 30 megawatts

Larimer County has released draft Land Use Code regulations that would cap data centers in unincorporated areas at 30 megawatts of power per facility, effectively prohibiting hyperscale facilities. The county is asking residents for comment. It said the draft, supported by staff analysis and research, responds to community feedback about water use, power demand, air quality and other issues.

The draft would require facilities to use at least 80% renewable power sources to operate. It would prohibit evaporative cooling. Data centers would be allowed only in Industrial Heavy and Industrial Light zones in unincorporated Larimer County.

Developers would have to submit an air quality mitigation plan explaining how they would address potential negative effects on air quality. They would also have to obtain pre- and post-construction noise studies from professional sound engineers and comply with county noise limits. The draft would allow the county to revisit the code if new information shows impacts the code does not adequately address.

Residents are invited to review the proposed regulations and share constructive feedback about issues of concern. The draft regulations, plain-language summaries and frequently asked questions are available online, and comments can be submitted through Larimer County's Engage Portal at https://engage.larimer.gov/x00418. The draft is at https://publicinput.com/Customer/File/Full/87e4204c-1731-4758-b9cc-a6eac75d3fad.

Public input is critical to addressing additional concerns and amending the Land Use Code for upcoming work sessions with the Planning Commission and Board of Larimer County Commissioners, the county said. Public hearings are to follow the work sessions. "There are still opportunities to engage with this process, and we want to hear from you," Commissioner Kristen Stephens said at a work session with Community Planning, Infrastructure, and Resources. "If you have questions or concerns about anything included in this draft, please reach out to us. We are happy to have those conversations."

A data center moratorium in unincorporated Larimer County is in place until February, 2027. The county has not received any data center applications. Work on specific data center regulations began in January 2026 in anticipation of future applications.

The Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission directed staff to write a strict code rather than pursue a ban. They did so after reviewing public feedback, hearing analysis and research from staff, surveying local businesses, and learning about critical services provided by some smaller data centers. The approach would let the county regulate key areas of concern and prohibit hyperscale facilities while still considering smaller-scale facilities that may support emergency dispatch, electrical grid operations, internet infrastructure, law enforcement networks, telehealth and other services, the county said.

Larimer County does not own, regulate or have authority over water or power utilities and cannot set utility rates. The Larimer County Land Use Code applies only in unincorporated Larimer County. Cities and towns such as Fort Collins, Loveland, Wellington and Estes Park establish their own land use rules, the county said.