Boulder County Bans Large Data Centers in Unincorporated Areas
Boulder County commissioners unanimously approved regulations effectively banning large data centers and detention centers in unincorporated areas to protect power and water resources.
The Boulder County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved strict new land use regulations on Tuesday that effectively ban large data centers and detention centers in unincorporated areas of the county. The new code limits data centers to an energy load of 50 kilowatts or less, a threshold more restrictive than the 75 kilowatts originally recommended by county staff.
Under the new rules, data centers are permitted only in areas zoned for industrial use and must undergo a limited impact special review to mitigate local effects. These regulations replace a six-month moratorium that was enacted in June. Commissioner Claire Levy stated that the measures are intended to address the consumption of power and water, arguing that such use does not belong in unincorporated Boulder County.
This decision aligns with a broader regional trend in Northern Colorado. Other jurisdictions, including Larimer County and the cities of Longmont, Loveland, and Broomfield, have implemented similar bans or moratoriums due to concerns over the intensive resource requirements of hyperscale data facilities.
