Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp proposed a one-year moratorium on new data centers in unincorporated areas of the county on June 30, 2026. The Hamilton County Planning Department is scheduled to begin operations on July 1, 2026.

"Developments like data centers, with the potential to negatively affect our unincorporated communities, are exactly why we established a county planning department," Wamp said. "We're taking a proactive approach by giving our planning department time to meet with local utility providers and study the impacts of data centers in rural areas so that we can thoughtfully plan for the county's future."

During the moratorium, Planning Department staff will review best practices from other communities with data center regulations. Staff will also meet with TVA, EPB, and local water providers, and gather input from residents and community leaders.

District 9 County Commissioner Steve Highlander, who chairs the commission's Public Works and Zoning Committee, commented on the proposal. "Growth is coming to our rural communities, and we have a responsibility to plan for it thoughtfully," Highlander said. "The reality is we don't know enough yet about the long-term impacts data centers could have on our water, farmland, utilities, and surrounding communities. This moratorium gives residents a voice while we take the time to better understand those impacts before establishing long-term regulations."

The Hamilton County Commission is scheduled to consider the proposed moratorium resolution at its July 1, 2026 agenda session. A vote on the proposal is anticipated at the commission's July 15, 2026 meeting.