Starke County commissioners have adopted a new zoning ordinance prohibiting commercial data centers across all zoning districts under the jurisdiction of the Starke County Plan Commission.
The commissioners approved Ordinance No. 2026-34 on Monday, October 19. The ordinance prohibits commercial data centers as both primary and accessory uses, including within planned unit developments.
The ban covers large-scale data centers, cryptocurrency mining facilities and server farms. Certain telecommunications infrastructure and qualifying internal IT rooms used by otherwise permitted businesses, industries or agricultural operations are excluded.
According to the ordinance, county commissioners determined that commercial data centers pose concerns involving water consumption, strain on the electrical grid and low-frequency noise. The county also cited potential impacts on local aquifers, agricultural land and rural infrastructure.
The restrictions extend beyond the data centers themselves. The ordinance also prohibits industrial cooling systems that continuously evaporate water as their primary cooling method, utility-scale substations and battery energy storage systems when their primary designated purpose is to supply power to a prohibited commercial data center.
The ordinance also prevents data centers from being classified as agricultural operations, even if excess heat from the facilities is used for greenhouses or livestock operations.
Commercial data centers are excluded from permitted uses, special exceptions and conditional uses. Any request for a use variance would be evaluated by the Starke County Board of Zoning Appeals against the findings outlined in the ordinance.
The Starke County Plan Commission held a public hearing on October 14 before forwarding a favorable recommendation to the commissioners. Six members voted in favor of the recommendation, with two members absent.
Violations of the ordinance can result in immediate stop-work orders, permit revocations and daily fines under the county’s zoning regulations.
The ordinance takes effect following passage and publication as required by law.