Walton County, FL Permanent Countywide Prohibition on Data Centers and Large Load Centers

Walton County, Florida (Panhandle, including the 30A beach communities) permanently banned data centers and other large electric-load centers countywide on June 10, 2026, by unanimous 5-0 vote. The ban has an intentionally steep exception path: approving any data center would require all five commissioners voting yes, after three public workshops and two public hearings. This is one of the strongest local data center prohibitions in the country.

Technical detail

Walton County (FL) ordinance adopted 5-0 on June 10, 2026: countywide prohibition on data centers and 'large load centers' (high-demand electric load facilities). Exception mechanism: requires unanimous 5-commissioner vote plus completion of 3 public workshops and 2 public hearings before any approval. Permanent prohibition (no sunset), distinguishing it from the moratorium wave.

Who is protected: Walton County, FL residents

Who must comply: Data center and large-load-center developers seeking approvals anywhere in Walton County, FL

Key facts

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