(Bannock County Press Release, July 31, 2026; Cover photo credit: Bannock County)
BANNOCK COUNTY, Idaho – On Thursday, July 30, 2026, the Bannock County Board of Commissioners signed an ordinance enacting a temporary, 180-day emergency moratorium on accepting or processing data center permit applications within county jurisdiction.
Effective July 30, 2026, through January 26, 2027, the temporary pause gives Bannock County Planning & Development staff the time required to research and draft a comprehensive, standalone data center ordinance designed to protect natural resources, energy infrastructure, utility ratepayers, and community character across the county.
“With data center interest growing across our region, putting a temporary pause in place allows our staff to study water usage, energy demands, and land-use impacts thoroughly before any county permits are considered,” said Hal Jensen, Planning Director. “Taking a proactive approach gives us the time we need to draft strong, clear protections specific to Bannock County’s long-term needs.”
Jurisdictional Boundaries
To ensure complete transparency, county officials emphasize this moratorium strictly applies to land within unincorporated county jurisdiction. The moratorium does not apply within city limits (such as the City of Pocatello) and does not impact municipal proceedings or the ongoing process for the proposed data center within Pocatello city jurisdiction.
Regulatory Timeline & Public Participation
County planners are currently finalizing a separate, years-long rewrite of the Land Use and Development Ordinance (LUDO). Because data centers were not included in the broader LUDO scope, county staff chose to address data center regulations separately during this 180-day pause rather than delay LUDO’s upcoming public hearings.
Once LUDO public hearings conclude, staff will focus fully on crafting the dedicated data center ordinance. Public input is a vital part of this process, and residents will have formal opportunities to provide feedback before any new regulations are adopted.
To keep residents directly informed, Bannock County has launched a dedicated webpage at bannockcounty.gov/datacenter. Residents can visit the site to track timeline updates, review draft materials, and subscribe to receive direct email notifications whenever public input opportunities or new project details are announced.























