Moffat County Approves Study to Clarify Data Center Zoning Rules

Steamboat Springs —Moffat County is preparing for data centers. Not because one is knocking at the door. But because the rules don’t explicitly say what happens when one shows up.

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted Wednesday to launch a study. They are reviewing how these facilities fit into existing zoning laws. The vote was unanimous. Five commissioners approved Resolution PC2026-01.

No project has been proposed. No decision has been made to allow or ban them. The county isn’t changing its zoning code today. It’s not imposing a moratorium. It’s just getting ready.

“We have no project to review,” Planning Director Candace Miller told the commission.

She brought the issue forward after watching how other communities handled the boom. She realized Moffat County’s zoning resolution doesn’t specifically identify or regulate data centers. The lack of a clear classification leaves questions hanging. Would a small server room be treated differently than a massive AI campus? Which zoning districts would be appropriate?

The commission members — Megan Cook, Kitsey Behrman, Rena Olsen, Shauana Merrill, and Ford Richmond — approved the move forward. They know the Board of County Commissioners holds final authority. The commission only researches and recommends. The commissioners vote after public hearings and notices.

Miller emphasized this isn’t a push for development. It isn’t an opposition, either. It’s a study.

“There is no recommendation,” she said.

The review starts with definitions. “Data center” covers a wide range. It could be a small room with a few racks. It could be a sprawling cloud computing facility housing thousands of servers. The size matters. The energy demand matters. Water use matters. The physical footprint matters.

The commission will look at how these factors affect classification. They’ll determine if a facility belongs in heavy industrial. Light industrial. Commercial. Business. Or some other district entirely.

The goal is to understand the industry. The county wants to be prepared if an application lands on a desk. Right now, the door is open, but the rules are vague.

Feinsinger wrote in the Craig Daily Press that the resolution directs planning staff and commission members to research possible regulations. The paper reported the vote took place Wednesday.

This isn’t about stopping progress. It’s about clarity. Locals need to know what they’re getting if a developer decides to build here. A data center isn’t just a building. It’s a load on the grid. It’s a user of water. It’s a change in land use.

The commission is buying time. They’re buying understanding. They’re ensuring that when the first proposal does arrive, the county isn’t guessing.

The short version: Moffat County is studying data centers so it doesn’t have to figure it out later. The door is open. The rules are being written. The county is watching.