McCormick County considers temporary data-center moratorium before rules are finalized

McCormick County Council Chair Ken Hamby has called for a temporary moratorium on data centers while county officials work on rules for future development.

WRDW reported the call on July 22, 2026. The proposal is not an adopted moratorium, and the approved reporting does not establish that the county has formally introduced or approved an ordinance. It also does not identify a specific applicant, project or site in the Town of McCormick.

What the proposal would do

The stated purpose is to establish baseline regulations and protections before any data-center development proposal is submitted. That would give the county an opportunity to consider how such facilities should be handled through its land-use process rather than responding only after an application arrives.

The issues identified in the reporting include land use, utilities, environmental safeguards, tax incentives and broader community impacts. A temporary pause could delay or prevent new applications from moving forward while those subjects are considered, although the practical effect would depend on the final ordinance and the applicable jurisdictional boundaries.

Review would take several steps

The proposed ordinance was expected to receive review and possible amendment through the McCormick County Planning Commission. It would then face three readings before the County Council. The packet does not provide a final adoption date or a stated length for the proposed moratorium.

That process means the July 22 announcement marks a call for temporary restrictions, not final county action. The Planning Commission’s role is relevant because it is part of the county’s land-use review process. A local report published ahead of a June 4 meeting also identified the commission’s meetings and economic-development reporting as part of that process.

What it means for McCormick

The proposal concerns countywide land-use policy, so it has a regulatory connection to the Town of McCormick, which is within McCormick County. Future industrial proposals could require county review or coordination, but the approved sources do not establish how town permitting would be affected.

For residents, property owners, taxpayers and local businesses, the immediate development is that county officials are considering whether to set rules before a data-center application is filed. Any effect on a particular property, utility system, incentive package or project remains unresolved.

The next known steps are Planning Commission review, possible amendments and three County Council readings. Until those steps produce final action, McCormick County has not been confirmed to have enacted a data-center moratorium.