County Commissioners Adopt Restrictions on Data Centers

As part of the annual docketing process amending the Comprehensive Plan and County development regulations, the County Commissioners have adopted significant restrictions on the development of data centers in Skagit County.

All data centers are now prohibited in unincorporated areas except for the Bayview Ridge light and heavy industrial zones, subject to additional regulations and limitations set forth in Skagit County Code Chapter 14. Size and electrical load limitations restrict data centers to small-scale operations, such as typical business server rooms.

On June 1, 2026, the County Commissioners adopted a moratorium on new data centers in Skagit County. For the purposes of the moratorium, data centers were defined as facilities meant to house computers and related equipment that are larger than 2,000 square feet or have a total anticipated load of two megawatts or greater. The moratorium applied to rural Skagit County, outside incorporated cities and towns.

The moratorium directed the Skagit County Planning and Development Services Department to develop new code regulating the siting of data centers through an open and public process. The Department proposed regulations for data centers to the Planning Commission over the summer, which limits the siting of data centers to only the Bayview Ridge light and heavy industrial zones and further clarified that data centers are not classified as utility developments, must be under 2,000 square feet, and with an electrical load not exceeding two megawatts.

The Planning Commission voted to recommend passage of these new regulations of data centers to the County Commissioners on September 15, 2026. The Commissioners then adopted the amended code language, along with the other 2026 docket amendments, via Ordinance #O20260007 on October 19, 2026.

Questions about data center regulations or other docket amendments can be emailed to commissioners@skagitcountywa.gov