Larimer County Seeks Business Input Before Setting Data Center Rules

Larimer County is asking businesses to weigh in on how future data-center development should be handled, with responses due by July 31, 2026. The county is reviewing possible rules for data centers in unincorporated areas while a temporary pause on new land-use applications remains in effect through August 25.

The review matters in Fort Collins because city officials have separately reported informal inquiries about potential large facilities. A July 9 memorandum to the Fort Collins City Council says Fort Collins Light & Power received several inquiries involving possible data centers ranging from 15 to 60 megawatts.

County review focuses outside Fort Collins city limits

Larimer County’s business outreach is aimed at understanding how data centers could affect economic competitiveness, workforce needs, infrastructure, water use, electricity demand, noise and land use. The county’s review applies to unincorporated parts of Larimer County, not automatically to property inside Fort Collins city limits.

The county has not adopted final data-center regulations through the business survey. The outreach is intended to help officials evaluate policy options and the potential effects of future development.

Moratorium gives county time to study rules

Larimer County’s temporary data-center moratorium is scheduled to remain in place through August 25, 2026. The county says the pause allows time to examine issues including infrastructure, water, power, nuisance concerns and zoning before new data-center land-use applications can move forward in unincorporated areas.

The moratorium is separate from Fort Collins’ municipal land-use authority. Any future facility inside the city would have to go through city processes, while a project in an unincorporated area would be subject to county rules and review.

Fort Collins inquiries remain informal

The Fort Collins city memo does not identify an approved or formally proposed data-center project. It says the inquiries received by Fort Collins Light & Power have not entered formal discussions.

The memo identifies water availability as a possible constraint and says any utility or tax benefits would depend on factors such as the facility’s location, infrastructure needs and operating conditions. Those references describe potential outcomes, not guaranteed revenue, job creation or savings for utility customers.

For residents and businesses, the policy questions are practical. Large data centers can require substantial electric service and supporting infrastructure, while local officials must consider water availability, noise, land-use compatibility and the effects on existing utility systems. The county is also seeking employer feedback about workforce, infrastructure, competitiveness and growth.

What happens next

Businesses have until July 31 to submit input through the county’s outreach effort. The temporary county moratorium is scheduled to end August 25 unless officials take another action.

After that, any future data-center proposal would still need to follow the applicable city or county land-use process. Fort Collins residents should watch for formal applications, utility discussions, zoning decisions and additional information about water, power, infrastructure, taxes or fees before drawing conclusions about whether a project will advance.

Sources

• Larimer County business perspective on data-center development
• Fort Collins City Council data-center memorandum