How has your city or county regulated data centers? Here's the latest in Nevada.
Efforts to regulate or pause construction of new data centers in Nevada have taken off in recent months, as local government officials grapple with how to best oversee an increasingly divisive industry.
Environmental advocates scored a win when Reno officials approved a pause on new data construction followed by discussions in rural counties and Southern Nevada about additional code changes.
Opposition to data centers has exploded in the past year, as Nevadans raise alarms about the developments' energy and water usage. Some use the energy equivalent of tens of thousands of homes, while Nevada's status as the nation's driest state makes water availability top of mind for residents.
Some data centers have adopted practices that are less water-intensive, and top candidates for governor have committed to not passing energy costs onto consumers.
As of early July, there were 74 data centers planned or constructed in the Silver State, according to Data Center Map, an online tracker of data center developments worldwide.
The Nevada Independent will be tracking what data center-related actions local governments across the state are taking. This page and the below map will be updated as officials take more actions.
If you notice anything that needs to be changed, you can email [email protected]. This story was last updated on July 7 at 2 a.m.
Click the links below to scroll to each type of action that local governments are taking.
Moratorium passed
Reno
The Reno City Council in June agreed to pause the approval of future data center developments until August 2027.
While the pause is in effect, city staff are working on potential changes to city code on regulating the centers, which the city has historically treated the same way as warehouses. These changes could cover everything from noise and air quality impacts to community benefit agreements.
The Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency — a group focused on improving consistency among the region's local governments — is also set to release recommendations later this year on best practices for industry regulation.
More reading:
Nevada Independent: Reno extends its data center moratorium into 2027. Here's what happens next.
Reno Gazette-Journal: Reno extends moratorium on new data centers through August 2027
Nye County
The Nye County Commission in June hit pause on accepting data center applications until it approves an ordinance to regulate the sector.
Commissioners expect this ordinance could be drafted in about 90 days.
More reading:
Pahrump Valley Times: Nye County approves data center moratorium
Nye County: Moratorium language
Discussing code changes
Clark County
Clark County commissioners are meeting on July 7 to discuss the application and approval process for data centers.
More reading:
Nevada Independent: Nevada's largest county to consider data center regulations — but likely not a moratorium
Clark County: County commission agenda item
Churchill County
The Churchill County Commission held a workshop on potential data center regulations in mid-June.
The commission will discuss the topic next at its Aug. 6 meeting.
KOLO 8: Churchill County Commissioners hold data center workshop, community shows up in big numbers
Lyon County
The Lyon County Commission is holding a workshop on Aug. 3 to discuss data center regulations.
Commissioners scheduled the workshop at their mid-June meeting.
City of Sparks
The City of Sparks was one of the first local governments in Nevada to take up the data center issue.
In September 2025, the city council voted to start the process of establishing code changes for data centers, but there have been no updates since then. The city is among those awaiting recommendations from the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency on how the region should oversee the industry.
More reading:
News 4: City of Sparks votes to begin drafting ordinance on data centers
City of Sparks: Starting regulation process document
City of Fernley
City of Fernley staff are looking into potential code changes for data centers, and they presented multiple drafts to council members in mid-June.
Members instructed staff to keep researching the topic and conduct workshops before bringing the topic back to the council for further discussion.
More reading:
City of Fernley: Data center staff report
Discussing moratorium
City of Henderson
The Henderson City Council is expected to consider a moratorium on data center applications at its July 21 meeting.
The moratorium would last for 180 days, but it could also be lifted earlier at the council's discretion. The measure was introduced at the council's mid-June meeting.
More reading:
The Nevada Independent: Henderson considers data center pause amid construction boom across Clark County
Humboldt County
Humboldt County, a rural region in northwestern Nevada, has taken initial steps to pass a moratorium.
In May, county commissioners agreed to hold a public hearing to discuss a moratorium on data centers, the first step in initiating a pause. The hearing was scheduled for July 6.
More reading:
The Pershing Post: Northern Nevada counties watching closely as Humboldt weighs data center moratorium
Humboldt County: Public hearing document
Humboldt County: Staff report
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