Wisconsin local moratoria

Every local infrastructure moratorium in the inventory for Wisconsin, current through September 23, 2026.

40 instruments — 38 in force, 2 pending, 0 past.

State policy is tracked separately: 7 actions (7 bills) in state_legislation.csv. These are not included in the local count above.

Detailed entries

Baldwin

• Type: Village
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: Approximately June 2026 (exact vote date not confirmed): the Baldwin Bulletin (successfully fetched via http mode; the article is ROT47-obfuscated Lee Enterprises/BLOX CMS text, decoded) reports that at the Village Board's May 13, 2026 meeting, 'Approval was granted ... to draft an ordinance, which will be presented to the Planning Commission,' after Village President Lance Van Damme proposed a one-year data-center moratorium. Two independent statewide roundups (Daily Reporter/WisPolitics, June 5, 2026, and the Wisconsin NewsMedia Association, June 2, 2026) both state in past tense that Baldwin 'passed' its moratorium by early June 2026, indicating the Village Board's final adoption vote came at a meeting after May 13 and before June 2, 2026.
• Normalized date: 2026-06 (month_only)
• Duration: Approximately one year (per Village President Lance Van Damme's stated intent)
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-baldwin-undated
• Legal basis: Village of Baldwin (St. Croix County) data center moratorium (ordinance/resolution number not located in reviewed sources)
• What prompted it: Prompted by data center-related developments in nearby Hammond (St. Croix County); Village President Lance Van Damme said the board wanted a moratorium to give the board time to consider regulations.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23. The Baldwin Bulletin article renders as ROT47-obfuscated text under an http-mode fetch (browser mode still shows only the paywall/nav chrome, but the http-mode save captured the full page including the obfuscated article body, which decodes cleanly with a standard ROT47 pass); it describes the May 13, 2026 Village Board meeting directing staff/counsel to draft the moratorium ordinance for presentation to the Planning Commission. Two independent statewide roundups (Daily Reporter, June 5, 2026; Wisconsin NewsMedia Association, June 2, 2026) confirm Baldwin had passed its moratorium (1-2 year range across the roundup's list of towns) by early June 2026. [VERIFY instrument/ordinance number not confirmed at confidence 0.5 in the 2026-09 refresh]
• Outcome: Village Board reported to have adopted a data center moratorium of roughly one year, prompted by developments in the neighboring Village of Hammond.

Beetown

• Type: Town
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: April 17, 2026
• Normalized date: 2026-04-17 (exact)
• Duration: Null and void upon adoption of a comprehensive zoning ordinance, or two years from the effective date, whichever occurs first
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-beetown-2026
• Legal basis: Ordinance No. 04172026
• What prompted it: Town withdrew from Grant County zoning and has no zoning ordinance in effect; a $1B+ data center was proposed nearby
• Affected projects: Collapsed/proposed $1 billion-plus data center in Grant County
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23.
• Outcome: No exceptions may be granted for a large-scale data center during the interim period

Bellevue

• Type: Village
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: August 12, 2026 (Village Board unanimous vote following a public hearing that evening)
• Normalized date: 2026-08-12 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months (extendable up to an additional 6 months)
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-bellevue-2026
• Legal basis: Village of Bellevue data center moratorium ordinance (ordinance number not located in reviewed sources)
• What prompted it: No active data center proposal pending, but the village acted proactively amid concerns raised in nearby communities (Wrightstown, Manitowoc County) about environmental impact, noise, water supply, and electrical costs.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; adopted unanimously August 12, 2026 after a public hearing the same evening. Gives the village board time to review an ordinance that could further regulate or ban data center development; may be extended up to an additional 6 months.
• Outcome: Adopted 12-month moratorium on data center development.

Cassville

• Type: Town
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: April 16, 2026 (town electors voted 44-0 that evening to authorize the Town Board to exercise village powers/zoning authority, and the Board adopted the data center ban ordinance the same evening)
• Normalized date: 2026-04-16 (exact)
• Duration: Up to two years
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-cassville-2026
• Legal basis: Town of Cassville (Grant County) data center ban ordinance, adopted using newly authorized village/zoning powers (ordinance number not located in reviewed sources)
• What prompted it: A proposed roughly $1 billion, approximately 500-acre data center campus by an undisclosed developer (drawn by the town's proximity to the Cardinal-Hickory Creek high-voltage transmission line); residents opposed the secrecy and scale of the project and mobilized to give the town board zoning authority to block it.
• Affected projects: An anonymous developer's proposed ~$1 billion, 400-500 megawatt data center campus (roughly 500 acres) near the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line; the developer reportedly went quiet after the town's action and was also considering sites in Indiana and North Dakota.
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; enacted April 16, 2026. Prohibits data centers in the town for up to two years and also restricts land-use changes (e.g., building a residence on farmland) without town board approval. The county cannot preempt the town's zoning authority in this instance. As of the reporting reviewed, the previously scouted developer had gone quiet, with no application filed.
• Outcome: Town electors authorized village/zoning powers and the Town Board adopted a two-year ban on data centers, blocking the proposed project.

Chippewa County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: August 11, 2026 (County Board of Supervisors, first and second readings held same night, 18-0 vote)
• Normalized date: 2026-08-11 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-chippewa-county-2026
• Legal basis: Chippewa County data center moratorium ordinance (ordinance number not located in reviewed sources), enacted via the county's zoning ordinances
• What prompted it: County has no zoning defining data centers or specific regulations for them; extensive electrical, water, and infrastructure demand concerns cited.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; adopted 18-0 and effective immediately August 11, 2026. Because it was enacted through the county's zoning ordinance, it applies only to the six townships that have adopted county zoning: Anson, Eagle Point, Lafayette, Wheaton, Woodmohr, and the Town of Hallie; does not apply to land within cities, villages, or other townships.
• Outcome: Adopted 12-month moratorium on data center development in county-zoned townships.

City of Madison

• Type: City
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: 2026-01-24
• Normalized date: 2026-01-24 (exact)
• Duration: One year, or until earlier adoption of data center ordinance amendments
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-madison-2026
• Legal basis: Legistar File 91135, Ordinance ORD-26-00002, creating MGO Sec. 28.140
• What prompted it: Madison cited the absence of a data center definition or specific standards in MGO Chapter 28. The city also identified potential energy, water, emergency service, traffic, noise, air quality, fiscal, and land use impacts.
• Affected projects: New principal-use data centers and telecommunications centers over 10,000 sq ft requiring zoning certificates in Madison
• Detailed status: Active
• Outcome: Pending. The moratorium gives city agencies time to draft a permanent definition and zoning standards.

City of Sheboygan

• Type: City
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: July 20, 2026 (Common Council 9-0 adoption of General Ordinance 1-26-27, after a May 4, 2026 referral to the Plan Commission)
• Normalized date: 2026-07-20 (exact)
• Duration: At least 365 days, and until city data center zoning regulations take effect if that occurs later
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-city-of-sheboygan-2026
• Legal basis: General Ordinance 1-26-27 (City of Sheboygan)
• What prompted it: Pauses zoning and building-permit approvals for principal-use data centers of at least 10,000 sq ft floor area; exceptions for existing facilities, pre-effective-date applications, accessory data centers, routine maintenance, and government emergency facilities.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-07-31.
• Outcome: Adopted moratorium on principal-use data center zoning/building approvals.

City of Superior

• Type: City
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: June 16, 2026 (Common Council unanimous adoption of Resolution R26-13876)
• Normalized date: 2026-06-16 (exact)
• Duration: One year
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-city-of-superior-2026
• Legal basis: Resolution R26-13876 (City of Superior Common Council)
• What prompted it: Pause on accepting, processing, approving, or issuing permits, licenses, zoning approvals, conditional-use permits, site plans, or other development approvals for new data centers; matter referred to Plan Commission for study.
• Affected projects: None identified; officials said no data center proposal was pending.
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-07-31.
• Outcome: Adopted one-year citywide moratorium on new data centers.

Dane County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: Introduced 2026-05-26; approved by the County Board 2026-06-04; signed by County Executive Melissa Agard on/around 2026-06-09
• Normalized date: 2026-06-04 (exact)
• Duration: 18 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-dane-county-2026
• Legal basis: County Board ordinance/resolution; specific number not located (Legistar full-text search requires an ASP.NET postback interaction that could not be executed via fetch)
• What prompted it: Mounting hyperscale data-center development pressure near Madison; the county formed a 13-member Advisory Committee on Data Centers (ACDC) in parallel to study impacts
• Affected projects: Not tied to a single named project; addresses hyperscale data center development generally
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-07-31 (18-month window runs to approximately December 2027). Applies only to new hyperscale data center development; existing facilities and ongoing operations are not affected.
• Outcome: 18-month pause on new hyperscale data center development

Dodge County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: August 18, 2026 (County Board of Supervisors, 29-2 vote, following an Aug. 10, 2026 Land and Resources and Parks Committee public hearing and unanimous committee approval)
• Normalized date: 2026-08-18 (exact)
• Duration: 18 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-dodge-county-2026
• Legal basis: Dodge County data center moratorium ordinance (ordinance number not located in reviewed sources)
• What prompted it: Concerns about groundwater and environmental impacts from a Meta data center under construction in Beaver Dam (within the county); supervisor Cathy Houchin sought an impact study alongside the moratorium.
• Affected projects: The moratorium does not apply to the Meta data center under construction in the City of Beaver Dam (incorporated, not county-zoned), which prompted the push for the moratorium and an accompanying environmental impact study of the county's groundwater.
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; adopted 29-2 (Supervisors Jayme Klockow and Robert Ballweg dissenting; 2 absent) on August 18, 2026, applying to County Zoned unincorporated areas. Does not affect incorporated areas such as Beaver Dam, where the Meta data center is located.
• Outcome: Adopted 18-month moratorium on data center construction in county-zoned unincorporated areas.

Door County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: May 26, 2026 (Door County Board of Supervisors adoption of Resolution 2026-41 by voice vote, per the board's own official meeting minutes). The county's June 23, 2026 agenda packet includes, as routine business, "Approval of Minutes of the May 26, 2026 County Board Meeting" — this procedural minutes-approval item is what the 2026-07 refresh apparently mistook for a second/later adoption; the resolution itself was adopted only once, on May 26, 2026.
• Normalized date: 2026-05-26 (exact)
• Duration: Up to 12 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center, battery storage
• Moratorium ID: wi-door-county-2026
• Legal basis: Resolution 2026-41 (Door County Board of Supervisors)
• What prompted it: Pause on development of data centers and battery energy storage systems in unincorporated Door County to allow investigation, planning, and regulation of potential impacts; Board may extend by separate action.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23. Confirmed via Door County's own official board minutes (reproduced in the June 23, 2026 agenda packet): Resolution 2026-41 was adopted by voice vote at the May 26, 2026 County Board meeting, imposing a moratorium on data centers and battery energy storage systems in unincorporated Door County "for a period of up to twelve (12) months from the date of this resolution," i.e. through approximately 2027-05-26, with the Board retaining the right to extend by separate action. No extension, repeal, or rescission was found as of 2026-09-23.
• Outcome: Adopted 12-month pause on data centers and battery storage systems in unincorporated Door County.

Grant County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: June 16, 2026 (County Board adoption of Resolution 2026-14)
• Normalized date: 2026-06-16 (exact)
• Duration: Up to 12 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-grant-county-2026
• Legal basis: Resolution 2026-14 (Grant County Board)
• What prompted it: Pause on accepting applications for, or granting zoning-related permits for, hyperscale data centers (at least 5,000 servers and at least 10,000 sq ft) in unincorporated areas under county zoning.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-07-31.
• Outcome: Adopted 12-month moratorium on hyperscale data center permits.

Green County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: July 14, 2026 (County Board adoption of Ordinance 26-0703, one member opposed)
• Normalized date: 2026-07-14 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months from publication, or until the board adopts regulatory amendments or rescinds the moratorium, whichever occurs first
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-green-county-2026
• Legal basis: Ordinance 26-0703 (Green County Board)
• What prompted it: Stops acceptance of data center applications in county-zoned territory while the county studies impacts, receives local input, and develops consistent standards.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-07-31.
• Outcome: Adopted 12-month moratorium on data center applications in county-zoned territory.

Greenville

• Type: Village
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: July 13, 2026 (Village Board approval, 5-0 vote)
• Normalized date: 2026-07-13 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-greenville-2026
• Legal basis: Ordinance 15-26 (Village of Greenville, Outagamie County), "Temporary Moratorium on Data Centers," adopted pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 66.1002, following the Village Board's Resolution 20-26 stating intent to enact the moratorium and a May 18, 2026 Plan Commission recommendation
• What prompted it: Plan Commission and Village Board wanted to get ahead of potential data center proposals and avoid being "surprised"; part of a wave of similar actions among nearby Fox Valley/Northeast Wisconsin municipalities.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; adopted 5-0 on July 13, 2026. Prohibits issuance of zoning certificates for data centers with floor area greater than 10,000 square feet for 12 months following the effective date, or until a data-center ordinance is adopted, whichever is earlier; extendable up to 6 additional months per Wis. Stat. § 66.1002(3)(b)2. Village staff are directed to draft permanent data-center regulations before the moratorium expires.
• Outcome: Adopted 12-month moratorium (Ordinance 15-26) on data centers over 10,000 square feet.

Hampden

• Type: Town
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: 2026-05-26 (Town Board special meeting, after a public meeting the same evening, enacted Ordinance No. 18, Town of Hampden Data Center Temporary Moratorium; preceded by Resolution of 2026-04-21 finding a moratorium needed under Wis. Stat. 66.1002)
• Normalized date: 2026-05-26 (exact)
• Duration: Twelve months following the effective date (passage, posting and publication) or until a data center ordinance takes effect, whichever is earlier; may be extended up to 6 months under Wis. Stat. 66.1002(3)(b)2
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-hampden-2026
• Legal basis: Ordinance No. 18, 'Town of Hampden Data Center Temporary Moratorium' (Chapter 18), under Wis. Stat. 66.1002; Resolution of 2026-04-21 relative to the enactment of a development moratorium ordinance
• What prompted it: Town Engineer (GEC) report that data centers could create shortages, overburden public facilities or threaten public health or safety; time to draft a data center ordinance and comprehensive plan updates.
• Affected projects: None named; the town has no industrial zoning.
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; Ordinance No. 18 enacted 2026-05-26 bars rezoning and subdivision approvals for data centers as a principal use for 12 months from its effective date (about late May/early June 2027) or until a data center ordinance takes effect.
• Outcome: Town to draft a data center ordinance and comprehensive plan revisions before the moratorium expires.

Hampden

• Type: Town
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: May 26, 2026 (per town page 'Last Updated'; not independently confirmed to the day)
• Normalized date: 2026-05-26 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months from effective date, or until a data center ordinance is adopted, whichever is earlier; may be extended up to 6 additional months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-hampden-2026-2
• Legal basis: Ordinance No. 13 (Town of Hampden Data Center Temporary Moratorium)
• What prompted it: Town wants time to research and draft comprehensive data-center regulations and update its comprehensive plan
• Affected projects: None named
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23.
• Outcome: Existing data centers treated as nonconforming uses during the moratorium; may be extended up to 6 months under Wis. Stat. 66.1002(3)(b)2

Janesville (Rock County town)

• Type: Town
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: On or about August 3, 2026 (Town Board of Supervisors vote)
• Normalized date: 2026-08-03 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-janesville-rock-county-town-2026
• Legal basis: Town Board resolution (number not published in coverage reviewed)
• What prompted it: Tech-company data center concept proposed at N Polzin/W Fenrick Rds; concern over loss of agricultural land
• Affected projects: Proposed data center at North Polzin/West Fenrick Roads
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23. This upgrades the packet's GAP_PENDING verdict: the Town Board did not merely consider the moratorium, it adopted one.
• Outcome: Town Board approved after Planning & Zoning Committee recommended it 07/29/2026

La Crosse

• Type: City
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: August 13, 2026 (Common Council unanimous final vote, following City Plan Commission advancement August 3, 2026 and a Judiciary & Administration Committee public hearing August 5, 2026)
• Normalized date: 2026-08-13 (exact)
• Duration: 18 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-la-crosse-2026
• Legal basis: City of La Crosse data center moratorium ordinance (ordinance number not located in reviewed sources)
• What prompted it: City is following La Crosse County's lead (the county adopted its own 18-month moratorium in June 2026); city lacks zoning language addressing data centers and wants time to study environmental, economic, and health impacts alongside the county's ad hoc study committee.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; adopted unanimously by the Common Council August 13, 2026. Applies to facilities that can store, process, retrieve, or distribute more than 1 petabyte of data or consume more than 2 megawatts of electricity; runs 18 months or until the city adopts zoning amendments recommended by the county's ad hoc committee or city staff, or rescinds the moratorium.
• Outcome: Adopted 18-month moratorium on new data center development within city limits, paralleling La Crosse County's own 18-month county moratorium.

La Crosse County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: June 18, 2026 (County Board approval, 26-2 vote, per WIZM)
• Normalized date: 2026-06-18 (exact)
• Duration: 18 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-la-crosse-county-2026
• Legal basis: Resolution No. 6-6/26 (La Crosse County Board of Supervisors), "Re: Temporary Moratorium on Data Centers," adopted June 18, 2026 by a voice vote of 26 ayes, 2 nays (Supervisors J. Fimreite and K. Schlimgen), 2 excused, per the county's own official June 18, 2026 board meeting minutes.
• What prompted it: Adopted to give the county time to receive the Data Center Study Committee's work (first met June 10, 2026) and consider permanent rules.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23. Confirmed via the county's own official board minutes for the June 18, 2026 meeting: Resolution No. 6-6/26 was adopted 26-2 (2 excused), imposing an 18-month moratorium on data center applications effective from the resolution's publication date (running to approximately December 2026-2027, i.e. through Dec. 2027 per News 8000's account that it "runs through December 2027"). No extension, repeal, or replacement was found as of 2026-09-23.
• Outcome: Adopted 18-month moratorium on data centers by a 26-2 vote.

Manitowoc County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: 2026-04-28
• Normalized date: 2026-04-28 (exact)
• Duration: 18 months from the date the ordinance is published (its effective date), or until the County Board adopts and the County Executive approves amendments, or rescinds the moratorium, whichever occurs first
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-manitowoc-county-2026
• Legal basis: Ordinance 2026/2028-10, creating Manitowoc County Code Sec. 8.495
• What prompted it: Town petitions from Mishicot, Two Creeks, and Two Rivers; concerns about health and safety, air quality, water resources, water use, electricity demand, fire hazards, public services, roads, property values, noise, visual impacts, farmland preservation, and lack of county data center standards.
• Affected projects: Data centers in county-zoned areas, especially Mishicot, Two Creeks, and Two Rivers. Reporting identifies Cloverleaf Infrastructure land outreach in the area, but no filed project application was identified.
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23. Confirmed directly against the final adopted ordinance text (No. 2026/2028-10, county code Sec. 8.495): an earlier planning-commission draft (2026-PZ-9A4, 04/27/2026) specified 12 months, but WPR and the final adopted text (2026-PZ-9A6, dated 04/29/2026, published by the Town of Two Rivers as "adopted by the Manitowoc County Board 4-28-2026") confirm the County Board amended the term from 12 to 18 months on the floor before final passage. The 18-month term (from publication ~April 28-29, 2026, running to approximately late October 2027) had not lapsed as of 2026-09-23, and no repeal, rescission, or amendment was found in subsequent county records or news coverage.
• Outcome: Pending. The county plans to study impacts and develop zoning and regulatory standards.

Marathon County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: August 25, 2026 (County Board approval)
• Normalized date: 2026-08-25 (exact)
• Duration: At least 12 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-marathon-county-2026
• Legal basis: Marathon County zoning code amendment (ordinance) enacting a data center moratorium, citing Wis. Stat. § 59.02 and § 59.69 (ordinance number not located in reviewed sources)
• What prompted it: High electrical demand, utility infrastructure requirements, cooling/mechanical systems, noise, emergency power generation, and land-use compatibility concerns associated with data center development; 7 of 18 affected townships responded to a staff survey in support before passage.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; approved August 25, 2026, applying to the 18 townships governed by county zoning (Brighton, Easton, Eau Pleine, Elderon, Frankfort, Green Valley, Guenther, Hewitt, Holton, Hull, Knowlton, Marathon, McMillan, Reid, Rib Falls, Plover, Spencer, and Wien). Applies to proposed facilities where data center operation is a primary use and cumulative gross floor area exceeds 5,000 square feet; exempts previously issued approvals, ordinary maintenance, and emergency utility restoration. Staff must report progress to the Environmental Resources Committee six months after passage.
• Outcome: Adopted at-least-12-month moratorium on data center-related zoning approvals in the 18 county-zoned townships.

Middleton

• Type: City
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: June 16, 2026
• Normalized date: 2026-06-16 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months from effective date, or until a permanent data-center amendment takes effect, whichever is earlier
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-middleton-2026
• Legal basis: Ordinance No. O1689 (Municipal Code Section 10.03.40)
• What prompted it: Data centers not listed as a permitted/conditional use in any zoning district; risk an applicant could argue a data center fits an existing PUD category
• Affected projects: None named; preemptive
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23.
• Outcome: Planning Department directed to draft comprehensive standards

Milwaukee

• Type: City
• Status: 🟡 Pending
• Date enacted: —
• Normalized date: — (unverified)
• Duration: Proposed one year
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-milwaukee-undated
• Legal basis: Proposed Milwaukee Common Council ordinance imposing a one-year data center moratorium, sponsored by Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic with Alex Brower, Russell W. Stamper II, and Robert Bauman; endorsed by the Zoning Code Technical Committee August 10, 2026
• What prompted it: Milwaukee's zoning code does not currently treat data centers as a distinct land use; sponsor wants rules in place before a major data center proposal is submitted, following controversy over a since-withdrawn data center component of a Midtown Center Walmart-site redevelopment.
• Affected projects: A 19,000-square-foot "computer research facility" that opponents characterized as a data center was initially part of a proposed Midtown Center (former Walmart site) redevelopment; the developer later removed it from the plan.
• Detailed status: Pending as of 2026-09-23. The City Plan Commission is scheduled to hold its hearing and make a recommendation on September 28, 2026; the proposal still requires Common Council approval before taking effect. If adopted, the moratorium would bar city departments/boards/commissions from accepting or processing most new data center applications for one year after passage or until the zoning code is amended to specifically regulate data centers, whichever is first, with an exception for planned-development-district properties and a proposed (contested) tribal-land exemption for the Forest County Potawatomi Community.
• Outcome: Zoning Code Technical Committee endorsed the proposed one-year data center moratorium (Aug. 10, 2026); City Plan Commission hearing scheduled Sept. 28, 2026; Common Council vote still required.

Monroe County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: July 21, 2026 (County Board 10-3 adoption of Resolution 07-26-04, three supervisors absent)
• Normalized date: 2026-07-21 (exact)
• Duration: Up to 18 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center, battery storage
• Moratorium ID: wi-monroe-county-2026
• Legal basis: Resolution 07-26-04 (Monroe County Board)
• What prompted it: Stops receipt of applications and issuance of zoning-related permits for medium and large data centers and battery storage facilities.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-07-31; a motion to return the measure to committee failed 3-10 before adoption.
• Outcome: Adopted 18-month moratorium on medium/large data centers and battery storage facilities.

Oneida County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: August 18, 2026 (County Board unanimous voice vote)
• Normalized date: 2026-08-18 (exact)
• Duration: One year
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-oneida-county-2026
• Legal basis: Oneida County Ordinance OA-02-2026 (data center moratorium; per county Planning & Zoning Committee's public hearing document naming "Dilley-Waterhouse-Jones-OA-02-2026")
• What prompted it: County has no existing ordinance addressing data centers; board wants time to educate itself and draft rules before any proposal arrives; no known data center plans exist in the county currently.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; adopted unanimously August 18, 2026, for a one-year period that can be extended if regulation drafting takes longer. Does not apply to the un-zoned areas of Sugar Camp, Monico, and Enterprise, nor to the City of Rhinelander (separate zoning authority).
• Outcome: Adopted one-year moratorium on new data center applications, permits, and approvals.

Oshkosh

• Type: City
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: September 8, 2026 (Common Council unanimous vote)
• Normalized date: 2026-09-08 (exact)
• Duration: One year
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-oshkosh-2026
• Legal basis: Oshkosh Common Council data center moratorium ordinance (ordinance number not located in reviewed sources)
• What prompted it: City wants time to study data centers and develop informed, consistent zoning and regulatory standards; part of a coordinated Fox Valley effort with Winnebago County and the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; adopted unanimously September 8, 2026. Does not establish permanent regulations or predetermine the outcome of the city's study; temporarily preserves the status quo while staff complete their work.
• Outcome: Adopted a one-year moratorium on data centers while the city develops zoning and regulatory standards.

Polk County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: August 18, 2026
• Normalized date: 2026-08-18 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-polk-county-2026
• Legal basis: Resolution 29-26 (creating Polk County Code Ch. 42-41)
• What prompted it: County lacks a data center ordinance; board wants time to develop zoning standards
• Affected projects: None named; preemptive, applies countywide including 16 named towns
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23.
• Outcome: County developing permanent zoning standards during the moratorium term

Sauk County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: September 15, 2026 (County Board approval, 27-1 vote)
• Normalized date: 2026-09-15 (exact)
• Duration: 18 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-sauk-county-2026
• Legal basis: Sauk County data center moratorium ordinance (ordinance number not located in reviewed sources)
• What prompted it: County has no specific zoning mechanism for data centers; officials want time to research the industry and draft zoning guardrails before any project comes forward; explicitly applies only in areas under county zoning authority.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; adopted 27-1 on September 15, 2026. Legal counsel drafted the measure with an 18-month term (rather than 12) based on case law treating 12-18 months as a reasonable moratorium period; applies only in areas where Sauk County has zoning authority, not within cities/villages. [VERIFY instrument number; primary source (news-only evidence) not confirmed at confidence 0.65 in the 2026-09 refresh]
• Outcome: Adopted 18-month moratorium on new data center applications/zoning approvals in county-zoned areas.

Sawyer County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: August 2026 (county board vote, following a 5-0 zoning committee recommendation)
• Normalized date: 2026-08 (month_only)
• Duration: 18 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-sawyer-county-2026
• Legal basis: Data Center and Associated Infrastructure Moratorium Ordinance (Resolution No. 2026-31)
• What prompted it: County wants time to review zoning/land-use regulations and propose setback, permitting and performance standards for large data centers
• Affected projects: None named; targets larger-scale projects, exempts smaller communications 'head end' facilities
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23.
• Outcome: County to compare approaches used by other Wisconsin counties and draft standards during the 18-month term

Shawano County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: June 24, 2026 (County Board adoption, following a June 3, 2026 public hearing)
• Normalized date: 2026-06-24 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-shawano-county-2026
• Legal basis: Shawano County Board data center moratorium (approved moratorium document); resolution/ordinance number not captured in sources reviewed
• What prompted it: Pause on siting, construction, establishment, or expansion of data centers in unincorporated towns using county zoning; pending requests held in abeyance, existing valid approvals exempt.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-07-31.
• Outcome: Adopted 12-month moratorium on data centers in county-zoned towns.

St. Croix County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: September 1, 2026 (County Board of Supervisors approval, 18-0 vote)
• Normalized date: 2026-09-01 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-st-croix-county-2026
• Legal basis: St. Croix County data center moratorium ordinance (ordinance number not located in reviewed sources), adopted alongside related zoning-definition amendments for data centers
• What prompted it: Public concern following a smaller data center (Metered Mining) receiving a conditional use permit in the Village of Hammond and subsequent litigation; county currently defines large-scale data centers as those demanding 10 megawatts or more but lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; adopted 18-0 on September 1, 2026. Applies only to county-zoned towns and unincorporated areas (the towns of Forest, Hudson, St. Joseph, and Troy, plus incorporated cities/villages such as Hammond, are exempt because they are not under county general zoning). The county's Community Development Committee is developing permanent standards, referencing an October 2026 Wisconsin Counties Association model ordinance.
• Outcome: Adopted 12-month moratorium on medium- and large-scale data centers in county-zoned areas.

Tigerton

• Type: Village
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: September 15, 2026 (Village Board, following a public hearing that drew more than 70 residents)
• Normalized date: 2026-09-15 (exact)
• Duration: One year
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-tigerton-2026
• Legal basis: Village of Tigerton data center moratorium ordinance (ordinance number not located in reviewed sources)
• What prompted it: At least one developer inquiry (Blake Simpson) about a proposed data center in the village; officials wanted time to establish zoning policies before any application; Shawano County's own June 2026 moratorium does not cover Tigerton because the village has its own zoning.
• Affected projects: An inquiry from a developer (Blake Simpson) described as smaller in scale than large data centers built elsewhere in the state (e.g. Port Washington); no formal application filed as of the moratorium's adoption.
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; set by the Village Board September 15, 2026 for one year or until the village establishes data-center-specific zoning policies, whichever comes first.
• Outcome: Adopted one-year moratorium on data centers pending village zoning policy development.

Town of New Denmark

• Type: Town
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: June 8, 2026 (Town Board adoption, per town notice)
• Normalized date: 2026-06-08 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months, extendable up to 6 months if the Town Board finds it in the town's interest
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-town-of-new-denmark-2026
• Legal basis: Town of New Denmark Town Board moratorium on placing data centers in the town; instrument number not located in sources reviewed
• What prompted it: Pause on placing data centers in the town while the Plan Commission and Zoning Administrator research and develop siting, zoning, and operating rules.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-07-31.
• Outcome: Adopted one-year moratorium on placing data centers in the town.

Vilas County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟡 Pending
• Date enacted: —
• Normalized date: — (unverified)
• Duration: Proposed 12 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center, battery storage, solar
• Moratorium ID: wi-vilas-county-undated
• Legal basis: Proposed Vilas County ordinance (draft; number not yet assigned per reviewed sources), Zoning & Planning Committee public hearing held 2026-09-23 under Wis. Stat. §§ 59.02(2), 59.03(2)(a), and 59.69
• What prompted it: County currently lacks local zoning regulations for data centers, battery energy storage systems, or large-scale solar; officials cite fire hazards (BESS), noise/vibration from cooling units, light pollution, water/air quality, stormwater runoff, and traffic impacts.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Pending as of 2026-09-23. The Vilas County Zoning & Planning Committee held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance on 2026-09-23 (the date of this research); the full County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote at its October 27, 2026 meeting. As drafted, the moratorium would freeze acceptance, review, or approval of development permits for data centers, BESS, and solar energy systems exceeding one acre, for 12 months, with exemptions for solar installations of one acre or less, ordinary maintenance/repairs, emergency utility restoration, and projects already holding valid county permits.
• Outcome: Public hearing held on a proposed 12-month moratorium on data centers, battery energy storage systems, and solar energy systems over one acre; County Board vote scheduled for 2026-10-27.

Village of Ashwaubenon

• Type: Village
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: June 23, 2026 (Village Board adoption of Ordinance O6-1-26, following a June 2, 2026 Plan Commission recommendation)
• Normalized date: 2026-06-23 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months, ending earlier if replacement rules are adopted or the ordinance is rescinded
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-village-of-ashwaubenon-2026
• Legal basis: Ordinance O6-1-26 (Village of Ashwaubenon)
• What prompted it: Pause on receiving applications and granting permits/approvals for hyperscale data centers, defined as facilities with at least 100,000 sq ft floor area or at least 20 MW planned or installed electrical capacity.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-07-31.
• Outcome: Adopted 12-month moratorium on hyperscale data center applications and permits.

Village of Cottage Grove

• Type: Village
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: July 20, 2026 (Village Board adoption of Ordinance 13-2026)
• Normalized date: 2026-07-20 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months, or until a regulating ordinance is approved or finally rejected, whichever occurs first
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-village-of-cottage-grove-2026
• Legal basis: Ordinance 13-2026 (Village of Cottage Grove)
• What prompted it: Bars new applications/permits for principal-use data centers larger than 10,000 sq ft; accessory data centers and complete applications filed before the effective date are excepted.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-07-31.
• Outcome: Adopted 12-month moratorium on principal-use data centers over 10,000 sq ft.

Village of Hobart

• Type: Village
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: July 7, 2026 (Village Board 4-1 approval of Ordinance 2026-07)
• Normalized date: 2026-07-07 (exact)
• Duration: One year
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-village-of-hobart-2026
• Legal basis: Ordinance 2026-07 (Village of Hobart)
• What prompted it: Pause on data center development to allow the village to draft regulatory rules and standards.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-07-31.
• Outcome: Adopted one-year moratorium on data center development.

Village of Wrightstown

• Type: Village
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: July 7, 2026 (Village Board unanimous, 6-0, approval of a year-long moratorium ordinance on all zoning and planning activities related to data centers, per NBC 26 and Ballotpedia). This followed a separate, earlier June 16, 2026 action in which the Board voted 6-0 to impose a shorter, interim pause on data-center zoning and planning activity specifically until the August 11, 2026 advisory referendum was certified; the July 7 ordinance extended that interim pause into a full one-year moratorium.
• Normalized date: 2026-07-07 (exact)
• Duration: One year
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-village-of-wrightstown-2026
• Legal basis: Village of Wrightstown Village Board moratorium ordinance on data center projects; adopted text not located in the village document portal
• What prompted it: Adopted following a resident petition, while an August 11, 2026 advisory referendum on municipal utility/infrastructure commitments for a large-scale data center project remained scheduled.
• Affected projects: Large-scale data center project that is the subject of the scheduled August 11, 2026 advisory referendum.
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23. The Village Board adopted a one-year moratorium on all zoning and planning activities related to data centers on July 7, 2026 (6-0), extending a shorter interim pause the Board had adopted June 16, 2026 pending the outcome of an August 11, 2026 advisory referendum. That referendum was held as scheduled and was defeated: of 1,184 votes cast, 87.25% (1,033) voted "No" on whether the Village should authorize, support, or facilitate public resources or infrastructure for a large-scale data center development (a non-binding result that does not itself alter the moratorium). No repeal, rescission, or replacement of the July 7 moratorium ordinance was found as of 2026-09-23. [VERIFY instrument number; primary source (news-only evidence) not confirmed at confidence 0.55 in the 2026-07 refresh]
• Outcome: Adopted one-year moratorium on data center projects.

Westport

• Type: Town
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: April 6, 2026 (Town Board regular meeting)
• Normalized date: 2026-04-06 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-westport-2026
• Legal basis: Ordinance 26-01 (Town of Westport, Dane County), "Establishing a Temporary Moratorium on the Consideration and/or Issuance of Permits for [Data Centers and Telecommunication Centers]"
• What prompted it: Modeled on a similar moratorium passed by the City of Madison; adopted amid growing data center prospecting activity in Dane County.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; adopted April 6, 2026 on a motion by Werner, seconded by Crowell, with Supervisor Manering dissenting (she wanted the ordinance to apply to all data centers regardless of size). Applies to data centers exceeding 10,000 square feet; covers a one-year moratorium on considering or issuing permits for data centers and telecommunication centers.
• Outcome: Adopted 12-month moratorium (Ordinance 26-01) on permits for data centers exceeding 10,000 square feet.

Winnebago County

• Type: County
• Status: 🟢 Active
• Date enacted: August 18, 2026 (County Board voice vote, one dissenting supervisor)
• Normalized date: 2026-08-18 (exact)
• Duration: 12 months
• Current end date: —
• Sectors: data center
• Moratorium ID: wi-winnebago-county-2026
• Legal basis: Winnebago County data center moratorium ordinance (ordinance number not located in reviewed sources), enacted under Wis. Stat. § 59.69(4)
• What prompted it: No county mechanism to regulate data centers; concerns over energy/water use, noise pollution, and utility rate impacts amid a wave of similar Wisconsin county and city moratoria.
• Affected projects: —
• Detailed status: Active as of 2026-09-23; passed in a voice vote at the Aug. 18, 2026 meeting, with District 24 Supervisor Andy Buck as the lone apparent dissenter (his prior motion to shorten the term to 6 months failed). Applies only in the four townships where the county has general zoning authority: Algoma, Omro, Neenah, and Nekimi; cities such as Oshkosh, Neenah, and Menasha must adopt their own regulations.
• Outcome: Adopted 12-month moratorium on new data center development in the four county-zoned townships.

Source: moratorium_inventory.csv · Methodology · Codebook.

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