Clinton places six-month hold on new data-center applications

Clinton has placed a six-month hold on new data-center applications while city officials review how the facilities should be defined and regulated under the city’s zoning ordinance.

The Clinton City Council approved the moratorium unanimously on June 22, 2026. It applies only within Clinton city limits and is a temporary zoning-review measure, not a permanent ban.

Why the city approved the pause

According to The Courier News, Clinton’s current zoning ordinance does not specifically define a data center. City Manager Roger Houck said data centers could locate only in industrial zones under the current ordinance, but an applicant would still have to appear before the Board of Zoning Appeals to determine whether the proposed use is permitted.

Houck said city staff will continue working with the Planning Commission while officials consider how the facilities should be addressed in local rules. That review could involve definitions, site-review standards, infrastructure considerations, noise limits, buffering and other compatibility issues. The moratorium itself does not adopt any new standards.

What the moratorium does — and does not do

The action places a temporary hold on new data-center applications inside Clinton during the six-month period. The available reporting does not establish that an existing facility has been ordered to close, nor does it document an approved, rejected or canceled project.

For residents and property owners, the most important boundary is jurisdiction. A property inside Clinton is reviewed under the city’s zoning process. A property in unincorporated Anderson County is handled under county rules instead.

County review is separate

Anderson County has separately considered proposed zoning amendments for data-processing centers, cryptocurrency mining facilities and battery-energy-storage systems in unincorporated areas. The county’s June 9 notice identified possible safeguards involving property size, power and utility assurances, setbacks, sound levels, buffers and site cleanup.

The county notice also said there were no applicants or planned projects for those industries in unincorporated Anderson County at that time. The proposed county safeguards do not automatically apply within Clinton city limits.

The city and county actions are separate because municipal and county zoning cover different jurisdictions. Residents evaluating property or development near the boundary should first confirm whether the parcel is inside Clinton or in an unincorporated part of Anderson County.

What to watch next

Residents should watch for Planning Commission recommendations, proposed ordinance language, public hearings and any action before the moratorium expires. The City of Clinton’s council page provides access to council agendas, minutes, resolutions and zoning materials.

Future rules could affect how Clinton reviews data-center proposals, including questions about location, infrastructure, noise, buffering and compatibility with nearby properties. Those standards would need to be adopted through later city action; they are not established by the six-month pause alone.

Sources

• The Courier News: Clinton approves six-month hold on data centers
• City of Clinton: City Council
• Anderson County Government: Proposed zoning safeguards
• Anderson County Planning Commission: Proposed zoning amendments