Scope
Bannock County Emergency Moratorium Ordinance No. 2026-02 imposes a moratorium on the receipt, processing and approval of applications for data centers for 180 days following its adoption. It does not apply to any permit already issued or to any permit for which a related application had already been requested from, filed with or issued by the Board. The county's web page states that it applies to unincorporated Bannock County and not to municipalities such as the City of Pocatello. During the moratorium the county is to work on a permanent solution.
- Geographic scope
- Unincorporated Bannock County, Idaho
- Jurisdiction
- Local
- Authority type
- Local government
- Issuing authority
- Bannock County Board of County Commissioners
Dates
- Adopted
- 30 July 2026
- Effective
- 30 July 2026
- Scheduled expiration
- 26 January 2027
- Ended
- Not recorded as ended
- Completion condition
- The ordinance runs for 180 days following adoption, unless the Board terminates it earlier; the county's data center web page gives 26 January 2027 as its last day.
- Source document
- 30 July 2026
- Last checked
- 1 October 2026 (earlier than tracker date 5 October 2026; not an automatic status change)
Summary
On 30 July 2026 the Bannock County Board of County Commissioners adopted Emergency Moratorium Ordinance No. 2026-02, which stops the county from receiving, processing or approving applications for data centers for 180 days while staff prepare permanent rules. It took effect on passage, does not apply to permits already issued or to permits whose related application was already filed, and applies in unincorporated Bannock County, not inside cities such as Pocatello. The county's web page says the pause runs through 26 January 2027. It is a temporary moratorium, not a permanent prohibition.
What this does not establish
- The calendar end day, 26 January 2027, is stated on the county's data center web page; the ordinance itself states a period of 180 days following adoption.
- That the ordinance applies only in unincorporated Bannock County comes from the county's web page, not from the ordinance text.
- No extension, amendment or early termination was found on the county web page checked on 23 September 2026; later Board minutes were not reviewed.
- Idaho Code section 67-6523, which the ordinance cites for emergency moratoriums, was not opened.
Unresolved questions
None recorded.
Relationships
Supersession means a later instrument replaces the earlier legal effect. Repeal links identify the repeal instrument and the measure it ends. A later implementation or related letter is not treated as a replacement unless the record says so.
- No related action is recorded.
Sources
https://www.bannockcounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Data-Center-Moratorium_Final.pdf
- Bannock County, Data Center Ordinance web page adoption day, end day (26 January 2027) and unincorporated-area scope