Housing & Development · Mariposa County
Mariposa County Approves 45-Day Moratorium on Data Center Development
Mariposa County supervisors voted unanimously 5-0 on October 20 to adopt a 45-day urgency ordinance halting data center development in the county's unincorporated areas. The moratorium, which took effect immediately, prohibits county departments from accepting or processing applications for establishing, constructing, expanding, or converting properties into data centers. Supervisors cited concerns including substantial electricity demand, water needed for cooling, noise, air emissions, and specialized fire protection needs. The ordinance excludes server rooms incidental to existing businesses, hospitals, schools, government facilities, telecommunications infrastructure, and public utility operations. The board directed County Counsel to prepare proposed land-use regulations for the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors; if zoning rules are adopted before the 45-day period ends, the temporary ordinance is automatically repealed.