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 9 at 11:30 a.m. 

Click the links below to scroll to each type of action that local governments are taking.

Moratorium passed

Discussing code changes

Discussing moratorium

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

Humboldt County

Humboldt County commissioners adopted a temporary moratorium on data center applications in unincorporated parts of the county at their July 6 meeting. The pause is set to run through July 13, 2027, unless commissioners vote to extend it. The moratorium does not apply within the city limits of Winnemucca.

During the pause, officials will update the county's Regional Master Plan and draft an ordinance addressing data centers' water, power and noise impacts, with community meetings planned as that ordinance is developed. Commissioners said they intend to track state and federal action on data centers and stay engaged as the Legislature takes up the issue.

The July 2027 expiration date was added during the meeting, replacing earlier language that would have tied the moratorium's expiration to completion of the master plan and zoning updates. While they did not set up a formal extension process, commissioners said the moratorium could be extended if the county needs more time, so long as it doesn't unfairly restrict landowners' ability to use their property and create legal problems for the county.

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

Discussing code changes

Clark County

Clark County commissioners met July 7 to discuss the application and approval process for data centers, but took no formal action. 

Commissioners William McCurdy II and Tick Segerblom said they plan to work toward a uniform standard for future projects — an effort McCurdy called potentially "Herculean." Commissioners directed county staff to further research the industry, noting their authority is limited to unincorporated areas of the county, leaving Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson to handle development within their own city limits. 

Additional information from experts, including the Desert Research Institute, will help shape any future policy. County staff were asked to identify where legislation might be needed and to work with state legislators, who are separately evaluating reforms to data center tax incentives. 

The meeting drew a protest rally from the Sierra Club's Toiyabe Chapter and roughly 15 residents who spoke in opposition to data center expansion. It followed the Clark County Zoning Commission's June 17 approval of a 56,800-square-foot expansion at the southwest valley campus of Switch, a Vegas-based data center company.

More reading:

The Nevada Independent: Nevada's largest county to consider data center regulations — but likely not a moratorium

The Las Vegas Review-Journal: Calls grow for Clark County data center regulation 

The Nevada Current: Clark County commissioners hear push for data center moratorium but take no action

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

Piper Heath contributed to this story.