Large-scale data centers are not an allowed use in unincorporated Pinellas County, and commissioners want to put that in writing.
At the Aug. 25 county commission meeting, Commissioner Dave Eggers asked staff to draft a formal resolution stating that the county’s zoning code does not allow large-scale data centers in unincorporated areas, which include Palm Harbor, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The move comes after months of resident concern about data center development pressure across the Tampa Bay region.
The resolution would not create a new ban. It would publicly state what the code already says.
Under Pinellas County’s zoning rules, a land use that is not explicitly allowed is prohibited. Because large-scale data centers are not listed as an allowed use, they cannot be built in unincorporated parts of the county.
Why not a moratorium?
County Attorney Jewel White told commissioners a moratorium carries legal risk because of Senate Bill 180, a state law sponsored by Republican Sen. Nick DiCeglie after the 2024 hurricanes. The law, intended to fast-track rebuilding in storm-impacted areas, limits affected local governments’ ability to adopt construction moratoriums or more restrictive land-development rules through Oct. 1, 2027.
White called the resolution “a good compromise” while the state law remains in effect and recommended that the county define different categories of data centers in its code.
“A resolution would be a really smart thing to do, because there’s a lot of angst out in the public on this particular item,” Commissioner Brian Scott said at the meeting. “We don’t have the space anyways, let’s be honest about it.”
No formal applications yet
County Administrator Barry Burton told commissioners Pinellas has not received any formal data center applications, though two inquiries have come in: one in an unincorporated area and one in Pinellas Park.
Commissioner Kathleen Peters first raised the issue in April, calling for a ban as WUSF reported in May. “I don’t want increased demand on water and power,” Peters said at the time. “What we need are good fiber optics, but we don’t need data centers here.”
Large-scale data centers, often built for artificial intelligence companies, can place major demands on electricity and water systems. Facilities that use evaporative cooling can require millions of gallons of water daily.
Regional and national context
Pinellas Park’s City Council unanimously imposed a one-year moratorium on data center development in August.
Hillsborough County commissioners voted earlier in August to have staff draft a data center moratorium that would take effect after Senate Bill 180 expires Oct. 1, 2027, or sooner if a court strikes down the law. They also directed staff to develop land-use regulations, including potential limits on using county drinking water for cooling.
Nationally, more than 530 counties and municipalities have blocked or severely restricted data centers, with more than 200 additional towns considering similar action, according to Heatmap Pro.
Eggers asked staff to draft the resolution. No date has been announced for a formal vote. Residents can follow the item through future county commission agendas and submit public comment at commission meetings, which are generally held twice monthly, usually on the first and third Tuesdays, in Clearwater.
