On the agenda: Carlton County meeting — Data Center (Aug 24)

CARLTON COUNTY
= =~MINNESOTA

Board of Commissioners

*“Public Hearing Regarding Interim Ordinance to Study
Data Centers in Carlton County***

Monday, August 24, 2026
4:15 p.m.
Carlton County Transportation Building
1630 County Road 61, Carlton

Roll Call

Presentation of Information from Zoning Department

Public comment (Please tise and state your name and address. Sign in at the front)
. Acknowledgment of written comments

. Adjourn to scheduled Adjourned County Board Meeting

INTERIM ORDINANCE NUMBER #42

CARLTON COUNTY DATA CENTER
INTERIM USE STUDY

August 24, 2026

Article I. General Provisions and Definitions

Section 1.1 Purpose

This Ordinance places a one-year pause on the creation or expansion of data centers in Carlton
County, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 394.34. The purpose of this pause is to protect the planning
process as the County studies data centers and their impacts and its official controls and the need
for possible amendments to its official controls to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of
citizens. Additionally, this ordinance will allow time for the completion of the County’s
Comprehensive Land Use Planning process that began in 2025.

Section 1.2 Background

New and evolving technologies related to artificial intelligence, cloud services, cryptocurrency
mining, and other digital infrastructure have created a demand for new physical data centers at an
unprecedented scale and pace.

The Zoning and Environmental Services Office has begun receiving inquiries about data centers
and regulation of data centers, including comments, questions, and concerns from members of the

public.

Carlton County Zoning Ordinance #27 does not expressly allow, regulate, or impose specific
standards for the issuance of interim or conditional use permits related to data centers. The Carlton
County Planning Commission has bad preliminary discussions regarding the possible permitting
for data centers.

Time is needed to study data centers, the impacts of them in Carlton County, and to determine
what modifications, if any, are needed in Carlton County Zoning Ordinance #27.

Section 1.3 Authority

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 394.34, counties have the authority to adopt interim ordinances,
when, among other things, they intend to conduct studies as to whether to amend their official
controls or their comprehensive plan. Such interim ordinances are adopted and put in place in order
to protect public health, safety, and welfare.

Section 1.4 Definitions
For purposes of this ordinance, the following definition shall apply:

Data center shall mean any facility, building, complex, or campus used for housing computers,
servers, storage, or networking equipment used principally to process, transfer, manage, or store
digital information. The term shall also encompass eryptocurrency mining, artificial
intelligence generation, all accessory structures or facilities comprising offices, generators,
water cooling or storage systems, utilities, or other infrastructure related to the digital data
operation. A data center complex/campus may include data management or storage buildings
and ancillary support buildings and structures, including secure and controlled entrances,
perimeter fencing, sally-ports, related construction management buildings, and cargo screening

buildings. The temporary restrictions set forth in Section 1.1 shall apply to any pending or
future zoning applications.

Section 1.5 Relationship with County Zoning Ordinance

The Carlton County Zoning Ordinance #27 shall be used for all administrative procedures,
standards, and definitions not stated in this ordinance.

Article I. Interim Ordinance Established

Section 2.1 Interim Zoning

In accordance with the purpose set forth above, and pursuant to the authority of Minnesota Statutes
§ 394.34 and the jurisdictional authority of the Carlton County Zoning Ordinance #27, a pause is
hereby imposed on the construction or creation or expansion of any data centers in Carlton County.

Section 2.2 Effective Date and Duration

This Ordinance shall take effect on the date of its passage and shall be in effect for a period of one
year from the date of enactment, unless earlier terminated by the Carlton County Board of
Commissioners.

Section 2.3 Prohibitions

No person, firm, entity, or corporation shall create, construct, allow, own, or operate, unless
lawfully in existence on the effective date, a data center within Carlton County until the expiration
or repeal of this Ordinance. No existing data center within Carlton County on the effective date of
this Ordinance shall be expanded in any way until the expiration or repeal of this Ordinance.

No proposal for conditional or interim use, variance, subdivision, or rezoning related to data center
development shall be accepted, processed or approved by staff, the planning commission or the
County Board.

Article HI. Administration and Enforcement
Section 3.1 Enforcement

Carlton County may enforce any provision of this Ordinance by any and all means authorized by
Carlton County Ordinances, state statute, or federal law.

Section 3.2 Severability

Every section, provision, or part of this Ordinance is declared severable from every other section,
provision, or part thereof to the extent that if any section, provision, or part of this Ordinance shall
be held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall not invalidate any other section, provision,
or part thereof.

Section 3.3 Study Directed and Authorized

The Carlton County Planning Commission has the responsibility of reviewing proposed
amendments to the County’s official controls. As such, the Planning Commission, with the input
and assistance of staff, is hereby authorized and directed to commence a study on the desirability
and need for the adoption of official controls to regulate the siting, construction, and operation of
data centers within the County in order to protect public health, welfare and safety. The Planning
Commission, with the input and assistance of staff, shall determine the most appropriate means of
conducting the study, including what and how input shall be received from subject-matter experts,
county residents, and other interested parties. If authorized by the County Board, planning
consultants may be utilized in the development of official controls.

Section 3.4 Reports to the County Board

The Planning Commission, by and through the assistance of staff, shall report as it deems
appropriate to the County Board on the progress being made on the study. If not done earlier, there
shall be a progress report made to the County Board in February 2027

Section 3.5 Study Outcome

The Planning Commission shall, prior to the expiration of this ordinance, make a report and
recommendation with respect to ordinance amendments that the Carlton County Board should
consider adopting regarding data centers.

Article IV. Expiration

This Ordinance shall become null and void upon expiration, or its termination, whichever occurs first.