Scope
Lake County Ordinance File 26-1018 amends Chapter 151, the Unified Development Ordinance, by adding to the transitional provisions of section 151.011 a temporary moratorium that temporarily prohibits data centers, as the amendment defines them, within the unincorporated area of Lake County. A data center proposed after the moratorium's effective date will not be considered by the county until the moratorium expires. The moratorium expires on 11 May 2027, or earlier if the County Board adopts resulting data center regulations.
- Geographic scope
- Unincorporated Lake County, Illinois
- Jurisdiction
- Local
- Authority type
- Local government
- Issuing authority
- Lake County Board
Dates
- Adopted
- 8 September 2026
- Effective
- 8 September 2026
- Scheduled expiration
- 11 May 2027
- Ended
- Not recorded as ended
- Completion condition
- Expires on 11 May 2027, or earlier upon the County Board adoption of resulting data center regulations.
- Source document
- 8 September 2026
- Last checked
- 2 October 2026 (earlier than tracker date 5 October 2026; not an automatic status change)
Summary
The Lake County Board adopted Ordinance File 26-1018 on 8 September 2026 and made it effective immediately. It amends the county's Unified Development Ordinance to temporarily prohibit data centers in the unincorporated area of Lake County, and says a data center proposed after the effective date will not be considered until the moratorium ends. The moratorium expires on 11 May 2027, or earlier if the County Board adopts data center regulations.
What this does not establish
- The moratorium's terms, definition and 11 May 2027 expiration are in Exhibit B, the codified amendment attached to the ordinance (a supporting source); adoption and immediate effect come from the ordinance text on the Legistar page.
- The Legistar history row for the 8 September 2026 County Board meeting shows no action text or vote; the adoption day rests on the file's Passed status, its 9/8/2026 final action and the ordinance's dated signature line.
- An earlier committee action (File 26-0742, approved 3 June 2026) authorizing a temporary administrative deferral of data center applications is not part of this record because its start and end days are not documented.
- The moratorium covers the unincorporated area only; ordinances of cities and villages in Lake County were not reviewed.
Unresolved questions
- Whether the County Board adopts data center regulations before 11 May 2027.
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://lakecounty.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8195397&GUID=47F3AC2A-E7E8-442B-92E3-280F9FD83AD0&FullText=1
- Exhibit B, Data Center Amendments (ALP version), attached to File 26-1018 codified amendment text with the moratorium terms, definition and 11 May 2027 expiration