Two Megawatts: The New Cap on Rural Data Centers in Skagit County

Skagit County Commissioners formally restricted the development of data centers in unincorporated areas on October 19, 2026. The new rules, passed as part of Ordinance #O20260007, prohibit such facilities outside the Bayview Ridge light and heavy industrial zones. Where permitted, the regulations cap facility size at 2,000 square feet and limit electrical load to two megawatts, a scale comparable to typical business server rooms rather than large-scale data operations.

These restrictions emerged from a regulatory process that began in mid-2026. On June 1, 2026, the Commissioners adopted a moratorium on new data centers in rural areas. They defined these facilities as those housing computers and related equipment larger than 2,000 square feet or with a load of two megawatts or greater. The moratorium specifically targeted land outside incorporated cities and towns.

The moratorium required the Planning and Development Services Department to draft new regulations through a public process. During the summer, the Department proposed rules to the Planning Commission. These proposals limited data centers to the Bayview Ridge zones, clarified that they are not classified as utility developments, and established the size and power limits now in effect.

The Planning Commission voted on September 15, 2026, to recommend the regulations for passage. The Commissioners subsequently adopted the amended code language alongside other 2026 docket amendments. The final ordinance restricts siting and operational capacity, effectively barring large-scale data centers from rural Skagit County unless they fit within the defined industrial zones and meet the specified thresholds.

Residents and developers can direct questions about the new data center regulations or other docket amendments to the commissioners at commissioners@skagitcountywa.gov. The rules take effect immediately as part of the updated Comprehensive Plan and development regulations.