Prince George's County, MD 2-Year Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium
Prince George's County, MD · Prince George's County, MD, County Council 2-year hyperscale data center moratorium (adopted July 7–8, 2026)
The Prince George's County Council, Maryland, approved a two-year moratorium on all new hyperscale data center development on July 7–8, 2026 — the longest county-level data center moratorium imposed in the United States. The moratorium allows the Council to draft comprehensive zoning legislation setting standards for data center siting and construction. The action came out of the controversy over the proposed conversion of Landover Mall into a data center complex. The moratorium can be lifted early if the Council adopts a comprehensive data center zoning framework before the two-year period expires. One Council member voted against the measure; three abstained.
Technical detail
Prince George's County Council (Maryland) two-year moratorium on hyperscale data center development, adopted July 7–8, 2026. Duration: two years (to approx. July 2028), with early-termination clause if comprehensive data center zoning legislation is enacted. Catalyst: proposed conversion of former Landover Mall site into a large-scale data center complex. Applies to new hyperscale data center development — 'hyperscale' threshold not specified in available reporting. The county had previously imposed a shorter-term pause; this action extends and formalizes the moratorium. One Council member voted no; three abstained from the vote. The 2-year duration is the longest county-level data center moratorium tracked in the dataset. PGC is one of the most active data-center markets in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Who is protected: Prince George's County, MD residents and communities near proposed hyperscale data center sites
Who must comply: Hyperscale data center developers seeking permits or approvals in Prince George's County, MD
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Prince George's County, MD |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Moderate protection |
| Effective date | 2026-07-08 |
| Enacted | 2026-07-08 |
| Citation | Prince George's County, MD, County Council 2-year hyperscale data center moratorium (adopted July 7–8, 2026) |
| Enforced by | Prince George's County Council / Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement |
| Penalties | Permit denial for covered projects during the moratorium period |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| Last verified | 2026-07-14 |
| Official source | Prince George's Co. extends pause on hyperscale data center development (WTOP, July 2026) ↗ |
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- SB 484 (FL Data Center Costs) · In effect
- Maine Data Center Moratorium (vetoed) · Vetoed
- VA Data Center Siting Bill (Vetoed) · Vetoed
- VA Data Center Tax Exemption · In effect
- VA Data Center Cost-Allocation Law · In effect
- Texas SB 6 (Data Center Grid Law) · In effect
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