Knox County, TN Proposed Data Centers Zoning District + Moratorium Resolution

Knox County commissioners are drafting a new zoning category just for data centers, requiring conditional-use approval for facilities over 10 megawatts or using more than 20,000 gallons of water a day. A companion resolution would freeze new data center permits countywide until June 30, 2027 while the rules are written.

Technical detail

Proposed amendment to Knox County Code adding a Data Centers Zoning District (conditional use for >10 MW, aggregated-capacity anti-circumvention rules, 20,000 GPD water threshold, TDEC-approved wastewater cooling), plus a draft moratorium resolution through June 30, 2027 for facilities ≥5 MW.

Who is protected: Residents of unincorporated Knox County, particularly rural communities

Who must comply: Data center and crypto-mining developers in unincorporated Knox County

Key facts

Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere

• Emergency 365-day moratorium on new data centers (>20 MVA) · In effect
• Resolution setting Seattle data-center impact-study framework · In effect
• Six-month moratorium on data centers >350,000 sq ft (Minneapolis) · In effect
• Nashville/Davidson County temporary moratorium on data centers · Proposed / pending
• Two-year moratorium on data centers, crypto mining, battery storage · In effect
• One-year data-center moratorium in unincorporated Boone County · In effect