Scope
The Big Rapids Charter Township Data Center Moratorium Ordinance enacts a temporary moratorium on the permitting, consideration, approval, location, erection, construction, review, and/or installation of all Data Centers in the Township for one year, subject to extensions of six months or less by resolution, or the Township's implementation of regulations governing Data Centers. Data Center means a facility used primarily for the storage, management, processing and transmission of digital data, and the moratorium encompasses all like operations. Section 6 lets a landowner apply for a waiver if the Township Board extends the moratorium beyond 12 months.
- Geographic scope
- Big Rapids Charter Township, Michigan
- Jurisdiction
- Local
- Authority type
- Local government
- Issuing authority
- Big Rapids Charter Township Board
Dates
- Adopted
- 23 February 2026
- Effective
- Effective status not verified
- Scheduled expiration
- See completion condition
- Ended
- Not recorded as ended
- Completion condition
- Section 3 sets a term of one year, subject to extensions of six months or less by resolution, or until the Township implements regulations governing Data Centers. The ordinance does not print the day the year begins; Section 7 ties effect to passage and publication, and no publication date is shown.
- Source document
- 23 February 2026
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
Summary
The Big Rapids Charter Township Board adopted a Data Center Temporary Moratorium Ordinance on 23 February 2026 by a 6-0 vote. It places a one-year temporary moratorium on the permitting, consideration, approval, location, construction, review and installation of all data centers in the township, subject to extensions of six months or less by resolution, or until the township adopts data center regulations. The ordinance says it takes effect upon passage and publication, and the publication date is not shown. It is a temporary moratorium, not a permanent prohibition.
What this does not establish
- The posted copy carries no ordinance number.
- The posted copy does not show the publication date, so the effective date and the day the one-year term ends are not confirmed.
- The clerk's certification describes the document as a resolution adopted at a special board meeting on 23 February 2026; Section 4 states the provisions are both an ordinance upon publication and a resolution of the Township Board.
Unresolved questions
- When the ordinance was published and therefore took effect, and the day its one-year term ends.
- Whether the Township Board extended the moratorium or adopted data center regulations.
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
Primary source: Big Rapids Charter Township Board page on bigrapidstownshipmi.gov